New MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti,

By Frank Neill

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel is the new MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti, the Māori electorate that includes Wainuiomata.

Standing for the Labour Party, Cushla is significantly ahead of the sitting candidate Meka Whaitiri.

The election night figures saw Cushla on 10,804 votes, a lead of 2,860 votes over Meka.

Meka was the Labour Party’s MP for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti until she decided to waka jump and joined Te Pāti Māori earlier this year.

Of Ngāti Porou descent, Cushla is well known as both a broadcaster and as a Rugby boss.

She worked for many years at both TVNZ and Whakaata Māori, including as a reporter on

“Marae”.

Cushla made a career move from the media to sports administration.

She was the Chief Executive Officer of the East Coast Rugby Football Union and then moved to the New Zealand Rugby Union where she was the manager for Māori rugby.