Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is a New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorate that was formed for the . It covers the eastern North Island from East Cape south through Hawke's Bay and the Wairarapa to Wainuiomata and most of the Hutt Valley, but not southern Lower Hutt or Wellington City.
It was held by Parekura Horomia of the Labour Party from 1999 until his death in 2013. A by-election to replace him was held on 29 June 2013 and was won by Labour's Meka Whaitiri, who has held the seat since. Whaitiri left the Labour Party in early May 2023 and joined Te Pāti Māori. According to a ruling by the speaker of the House, Whaitiri continued to represent the electorate, not on behalf of a party, but as an independent. Whaitiri was defeated by Labour's Cushla Tangaere-Manuel in 2023.
Population centres
As the electorate's name suggests (ika "fish", roa "long", rāwhiti "east"), Ikaroa-Rāwhiti is a long electorate covering the eastern North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui).
The electorate includes the following population centres (from north to south): Gisborne Wairoa Napier Hastings Central Hawke's Bay Tararua District Masterton and the Wairarapa district Wellington – Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt—northern suburbs (north of Fairway Drive and Daysh Street), western hills (excluding Korokoro), and Wainuiomata
In the 2013/14 redistribution, a minor boundary adjustment was undertaken. A small area, including the village of Tuai, was transferred to the electorate.
Tribal areas
The electorate includes the following tribal areas: Ngāti Porou – Potikirua ki Te Toka-a-Taiau (Gisborne) Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki – Gisborne and Poverty Bay Rongowhakaata – Poverty Bay Ngāi Tāmanuhiri – Poverty Bay Ngāti Kahungunu – Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, Hastings, Napier and Wairarapa Ngāti Toa – Hutt Valley, and northern Lower Hutt
History
The electorate was formed for the , which was won by Parekura Horomia of the Labour Party. Horomia's death on 29 April 2013 triggered a by-election, which was held on 29 June and won by Labour's Meka Whaitiri. The Māori Party had nominated tribal leader Na Rongowhakaata Raihania. and the Mana Party had selected television presenter Te Hamua Nikora as its candidate. The Green Party had selected environmentalist and human rights advocate Marama Davidson. Further candidates had been Michael Appleby for the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party plus two independent candidates. Based on preliminary results, Whaitiri more than tripled her night majority over Mana's Nikora. Also based on preliminary results, Marama Fox of the Māori Party was elected to Parliament as a list MP.
Members of Parliament
Key
List MPs
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested Ikaroa-Rāwhiti. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.