Tākuta Ferris announces independent bid for Te Tai Tonga

Tākuta Ferris has formally announced his intention to run as an independent candidate for the Te Tai Tonga electorate in the 2026 General Election. Ferris, who has served as an independent MP for the past ten months, previously won the seat in 2023 under the Te Pāti Māori banner before being expelled from the party in 2025 following an internal dispute.

In his announcement, Ferris stated that the political pathway has changed and that independence offers an opportunity to return the focus of representation to the people and their tikanga. Standing without a party list safety net, Ferris's re-election bid will depend entirely on winning the electorate outright. The contest is expected to serve as a significant test of his personal political support versus the influence of the Te Pāti Māori movement within the vast geographic area of Te Tai Tonga.