‘I’m a disruptor’: Māori-Tongan community worker is taking on Ōtāhuhu for the Greens

Te Whatanui Leka Skipwith has spent years fighting for South Auckland families and young people.

Now, the Māori-Tongan community worker wants to take that fight into Parliament.

The Green Party Ōtāhuhu candidate says his decision to stand comes from his frontline work with communities struggling with the cost of living, housing, and other pressures.

“I am a husband. I'm a father, a community support worker, youth worker," he told William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

"And in a previous life, I was a former New Zealand MMA kickboxing champion. But I've spent most of my life actually fighting inside the ring and the cage.

"But most importantly, I've been fighting for most of our most vulnerable, which is a lot of our youth and a lot of our families and communities.”

Green Party Ōtāhuhu candidate Te Whatanui Leka Tōmā Lolo Skipwith says his frontline work with youth, families and vulnerable communities has driven him to enter politics. Photo/LDR

Skipwith says his Tongan family came from Vava'u before some moved to East Auckland and others to South Auckland.

His community background is also what he says drew him to the Greens.

“The Greens align with my own values, you know, being of Māori and Tongan, being my Christian beliefs. A lot of it is about tu whakamana, to support to serve and to protect our people and our communities.”

The Green Party is campaigning for the party vote as it seeks to grow its support in South Auckland. Photo/Supplied

Environmental protection is also important to him, he says, because Pacific and Māori communities need healthy land and resources for future generations.

Skipwith says conversations with people across South Auckland have convinced him many voters are losing faith in politics.

He and fellow Green candidate, Michel Mulipola, who is standing in Māngere, have been travelling on buses and trains as part of their “Ride With Me” campaign, talking with residents.

“Our people, our communities are saying the same thing," Skipwith tells Terite. "They're disillusioned, they've actually lost hope because they've lost hope in the people that they voted for previously because they can't actually see any impactful change that has caused any improvements within our communities and communities alike.”

He says representation needs to go beyond having politicians who look like the communities they represent.

“You've actually got to be listening to our people. You've got to be in the community working with our people, because that's where you get held accountable.”

Te Whatanui Leka Tōmā Lolo Skipwith says representation needs to go beyond having candidates who look like the communities they represent. Photo/Facebook

That emphasis on representation comes as 79 per cent of Pacific respondents in the PMN-Horizon Research election survey said it was important for political parties to have Pacific candidates or MPs.

Cost of living is the biggest issue he wants to tackle.

“Our people, we are working hard, you know, but we're still getting squeezed to choose whether or not we have to pay for rent or whether we have to pay for food, paying for the power bill or petrol to get to work or get our kids to work.”

He says families are not asking for luxuries, but “the basics and a fair chance”.

His focus on affordability comes as cost of living ranks as the biggest election issue for Pacific voters in the latest PMN-Horizon Research survey. Nine in 10 respondents said it was an issue that would influence how they vote, followed by jobs and wages at 75 per cent and housing at 65 per cent.

Housing, youth and community development would be his priorities if elected.

Watch Te Whatanui Leka Skipwith's full interview below.

But Skipwith faces a difficult path into Parliament. He is ranked 30th on the Green Party list and says his focus is on winning party votes rather than relying on the electorate race.

He describes himself as a “disruptor” and rejects the idea that activists or community campaigners do not belong in Parliament.

“Absolutely, that's absolutely the place where people like me should be in there to bring voices to our communities that decisions are being made away from them.”

Skipwith says the election is ultimately about getting more people involved.

“If you are not enrolled to vote, please, family, get out there and get enrolled. And we need you to vote because in order for us to be able to get some an official change that will help not only us but the generations to come.”

New Zealanders head to the polls on 7 November.