Tākuta Ferris
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Ferris in 2023
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| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Te Tai Tonga | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Rino Tirikatene |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1978 (age 45–46) |
| Political party | Te Pāti Māori |
| Relatives | Piri Sciascia (uncle) |
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Tākuta "Doc" Ferris (born 1978) is a New Zealand politician. A member of Te Pāti Māori, he was elected to the New Zealand House of Representatives at the 2023 general election as the MP for Te Tai Tonga. Ferris's electoral success was one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 general election. His win was unexpected, with the family of the incumbent Rino Tirikatene having held the Te Tai Tonga electorate for 72 of the last 91 years.
Ferris was born in 1978.[1] Piri Sciascia was his uncle.[2] Ferris has a degree in Māori design and art, as well as a degree in mātauranga Māori, both from Te Wānanga o Raukawa.[1][3] He is of the Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou iwi.[4] Ferris was a lecturer and adviser at Massey University's Manawatū campus.[3][5] He describes himself as "a fisherman, a diver, and an artist".[6]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Te Tai Tonga | 5 | Te Pāti Māori | |
On 10 May 2020, Tākuta Ferris was selected as the Māori Party candidate for Te Tai Tonga for the 2020 election. Ferris was quoted as saying that "the status quo is no longer acceptable. It is our responsibility to challenge it and change the development narrative for our tamariki and mokopuna."[4] Ferris was beaten by the incumbent, Rino Tirikatene, by a margin of over 6,800 votes.[3] Following the announcement of the proposed closure of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, Ferris called for the government to put whānau first, arguing that central and regional government should intervene with an aim for a more diversified regional economy.[7]
Ferris was re-selected to stand in Te Tai Tonga for Te Pāti Māori in the 2023 election.[a] His campaign strategy targeted younger voters because older people are "entrapped in the status quo". He stated he intended to increase support for himself from younger people over three to fifteen years as they grow up.[6] Ferris stood in for his party's co-leaders in The Press leaders' debate. He was praised for his contributions to the debate; despite sparring against two senior politicians—Winston Peters and David Seymour—Ferris "stood out from the pack" and was "shining".[6][9] However, journalists considered Ferris "still has little chance of making it to Parliament" since the incumbent Tirikatene's family had represented Te Tai Tonga and its predecessor electorate for 72 of the last 91 years and an opinion poll in late September 2023 had Tirikatene ahead with an 11-point margin.[6][10] Despite these predictions, Ferris defeated Tirikatene with a 2,800-vote margin.[11]
During his maiden speech on 12 December, Ferris stated that he was there not to service the needs of the New Zealand House of Representatives but rather to "contest it." He also criticised the National-led coalition government's policies which he claimed attacked Māori language and culture.[12] He was appointed Te Pāti Māori's education, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, justice, police, corrections, drug law reform, water, fisheries, forestry, broadcasting and public service spokesperson and sits on Parliament's justice committee.[13]
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