Teanau Tuiono

Teanau Tuiono (born 25 December 1972) is a New Zealand politician. In 2020 he became a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives as a representative of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.[1]

Teanau Tuiono

MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Green party list
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Personal details
Born (1972-12-25) 25 December 1972
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyGreen
ProfessionEducation consultant

Early life and career

Tuiono was born on 25 December 1972.[2] He is both Cook Islands Māori (Atiu) and New Zealand Māori (Ngāpuhi and Ngāi Takoto); he is tangata whenua, and also belongs to the Pasifika/Moananui diaspora.[3][4] Tuiono grew up in Te Atatū and Ōtāhuhu, with a two-year period in Rarotonga. He initially enrolled for an engineering certificate but partway through changed to a BA in Māori Studies at the University of Auckland. He credits an environmental paper he took there, taught by Jeanette Fitzsimons, as turning him into environmental activism.[2] He followed his BA with a law degree, also from the University of Auckland.[5]

By profession he is an education consultant who has previously worked at both the United Nations and Massey University.[6]

He attended the protests at the anti-Springbock tour protests in 1981.[2] Prior to entering parliament, Teanau Tuiono organised protests for subjects such as GCSB laws,[7] the TPPA,[8] and Australian Aboriginal rights.[9] He was also involved in translating Facebook into Māori.[10]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–present 53rd List 8 Green

Tuiono stood for the Green Party at the 2017 election and was 16th on the party list. This was not high enough for Tuiono to be elected to parliament, as the party won only 8 seats.[6]

At the 2019 local-body elections, Tuiono stood for Mayor of Palmerston North as the Green Party candidate, running a campaign focusing on the local effects of climate change.[4] He finished a distant second to incumbent Grant Smith.[6]

During the 2020 general election, Tuiono stood as the 8th ranked list candidate for the Green Party and as the party's candidate for Palmerston North. He came third place in Palmerston North, with 2,039 votes.[11] With the Greens winning 10 seats, he became a list Member of Parliament.[12][13] Tuiono is the Green Party's first Pasifika MP.[12]

During his campaign, Tuiono pledged to tackle wealth inequality in New Zealand.[14]

Views and positions

In December 2020, Tuiono joined fellow Green MP Golriz Ghahraman and Labour MP Ibrahim Omer in pledging to form a new parliamentary Palestine friendship group to "raise the voices of Palestinian peoples in the New Zealand Parliament" during an event organised by the Wellington Palestine advocacy group to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.[15]

References
  1. "Election 2020: The 40 diverse new MPs entering Parliament". Newstalk ZB. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020 – via The New Zealand Herald.
  2. Jono Galuszka (23 October 2020). "Teanau Tuiono: activist, sci-fi fan, human rights investigator, MP". Stuff. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  3. Tuiono, Teanau (May 2018). "Going Back to the Island". Core Education. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  4. Rankin, Janine (16 August 2019). "Greens put climate change at centre of city mayoral contest". Stuff. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  5. 5 Sep, Richard Pamatatau |; Read, 2020 | 0 | 9 Min (5 September 2020). "Teanau Tuiono: I knew I had to do more". E-Tangata. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  6. Cooke, Henry (9 April 2020). "Green Party initial election list puts newcomer Teanau Tuiono ahead of several sitting MPs". Stuff. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. Townend, Lucy (29 July 2013). "GCSB protesters lay TV complaint". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. Townend, Lucy (9 March 2015). "Protesters march against trade deal". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. Kirk, Stacey (1 May 2015). "New Zealanders march against Australian plans to close Aboriginal communities". Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. "Facebook now available in Maori". Waikato Times. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  11. "Palmerston North - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. Jono Galuszka (18 October 2020). "Election 2020: Palmerston North's 'Cookie quinella' off to Parliament". Stuff. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  13. "2020 General Election and Referendums - Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. "Palmerston North Green Party candidate Teanau Tuiono ramps up election campaign". Stuff. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  15. "New Zealand MPs take pledge for Palestine". Palestine Post 24. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
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