'Championing for our party vote': NZ First names Te Kira Lawrence as East Cape candidate
Napier city councillor Te Kira Lawrence has been announced as New Zealand First’s candidate for the East Cape electorate.
Lawrence does not live in the East Cape electorate - she lives over 200km away - and does not plan on moving if elected. Instead, she’s focused on “championing for our party vote”.
“We do believe we are the home for the average worker; we think we’re the voice for the silent majority.”
Napier-born Lawrence described herself as “very much a family person”. She’s the mother of a 12-year-old daughter, and has whakapapa to Te Wairoa, Taumarunui and Tainui (Kawhia), as well as a Lebanese and Malaysian-Chinese background.
Lawrence was elected to Napier City Council last year - after a first unsuccessful run in 2022 - and holds the multicultural communities portfolio.
She previously held roles in administration, architecture and marketing.
“It’s always been about connecting people and maintaining relationships,” Lawrence told The Gisborne Herald.
“I always like to try to make a difference in my own little way if I can.”
In a 2022 interview, she said she would run with Labour or Act if she were to run for Parliament.
“I’m definitely from a working class family, from quite humble beginnings,” Lawrence said.
“I like to bat for the working person, the everyday Joe Bloggs”.
She joined NZ First as a 2023 election volunteer after seeing videos of party leader Winston Peters speaking.
“I liked what he was saying; he was saying some things that I’d been feeling for a while.”
She aligned with the party’s approach on “sustainable and smart” immigration and a focus on regional communities. She’s been an outreach adviser covering Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui and Taranaki for the party since 2024.
Transport connectivity within the region and infrastructure are the main issues the region is facing, Lawrence said.
She’s keen on the possibility of another future fund - “a bigger, better, amped-up version of the Provincial Growth Fund” - to help boost the regions.
Lawrence believes family is “core to all of our communities, and what brings us together”.
“That’s what I want to champion, as well as regional development and our provinces”.
“I know that the [East Cape] community is very, very resilient, more than they should have to be,” she said.
“...New Zealand First has always believed that our priorities and regions matter, and we believe in backing New Zealand, supporting infrastructure investment and ensuring communities outside the main centres have a strong voice, and I believe I can be that person.”
East Cape candidates announced to date:
Incumbent MP Dana Kirkpatrick (National), Jo Luxton (Labour), Jordan Walker (Green), Te Kira Lawrence (NZ First) and Cail Smith (Opportunity).
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