Labour takes aim at Luxon in Botany as Leavasa steps forward

A former Labour MP is taking on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Botany, a seat long held by the National Party.

Sāmoan Dr Anae Neru Leavasa, who represented Takanini from 2020 to 2023, has been selected as Labour’s candidate for the 2026 election.

Speaking on Pacific Mornings, Leavasa said he knows the challenge is huge but believes the electorate’s changing makeup and rising costs of living could give him a chance.

“All it takes is a couple of ticks so if you’re ticking that party vote you might as well tick a candidate that’s got experience, that can look after the electorate and who’s based in the electorate as a medical doctor,” Leavasa says.

Recent boundary changes have made Botany even tougher for Labour, removing some traditionally supportive areas and extending further into the eastern suburbs.

In 2023, Luxon won the seat by over 16,000 votes against Labour’s Kharag Singh.

Watch Dr Anae Neru Leavasa's full interview below.

But Leavasa says the electorate’s diversity remains key to his campaign.

According to census data, around 14 per cent of Botany’s population identify as Pacific, higher than the national average, while more than half were born overseas.

The area is also heavily Asian, making up about 45 per cent of residents.

A traditionally safe National seat, Botany’s changing demographics and economic pressures could test its political loyalties. Photo/Supplied

“It is one of those ethnic-based populations… so my experience from Takanini where again, it’s a very ethnic-based population and my connection now is to extend into the Chinese community,” Leavasa said.

Economic pressure is high, particularly around fuel costs, which hit Pacific households hard.

Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti says the government’s response, including a targeted $50-a-week in-work payment, is meant to provide immediate relief.

“It will certainly make a contribution to roughly 143,000 people,” Reti said on Pacific Mornings.

But some argue targeted support is not enough, as Pacific communities face higher unemployment and material hardship rates.

Reti says the government aims to balance urgency with “targeted, timely, and temporary” measures, rather than broader approaches like fuel tax cuts or free public transport.

Watch Dr Shane Reti's full interview below.

Reti, who is retiring and not seeking re-election this year, says family and timing influenced his decision.

“Every campaign, you weigh up where is the family, where are the needs, where is the greatest application of resources,” he said.

With his father turning 90, Reti said it was the right moment to step away after a “solid” 12-year career in Parliament.

“At this point in time, again, not being distracted by that and by other things, my role is to continue to position the Ministry for Pacific Peoples as one of the top performing agencies delivering for Pacific people.”