Former National Party MP Harete Hipango Joins New Zealand First

Russell
Palmer, Political Reporter

Former
National Party MP Harete Hipango has joined New Zealand
First.

Hipango was MP for Whanganui from 2017 to 2020,
and returned to Parliament on the list in May 2021 after the
resignation
of Nick Smith.

She put her name forward to contest
the Te Tai Hauāuru seat in the 2023 election – the
first National MP to contest a Māori seat since the 2002
election – but was unsuccessful, coming third behind Te
Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Labour’s Adrian
Rurawhe.

Hipango told RNZ whether she was considered
for a role will be a matter for the New Zealand First
leadership to consider.

“I haven’t put my name
forward… I think that’s a matter for the leadership to
consider, it would be by invitation. I’m really here to
look, to listen, to learn, like I tended to when I entered
politics,” she said.

“The reason I’m here is I see
that we’ve got a New Zealand that has got some turbulences
at the moment. I like the style of the leadership – seeing
the issues for what they are, calling it straight,
sharpshooting – and the pragmatism behind it.

“I’d
have to say that there are many similarities between
National and New Zealand First as well… there are aligned
views, but New Zealand First went the other
way.

“We’re meant to be a community of New Zealanders.
New Zealand, first. So that’s really drawn me, and it’s
resonated. We’re a democracy too, you know? So people have
the choice about which way they go… it’s about holding
fast to that and looking at what our interests are as a
party.”

Hipango was criticised when in opposition for
having
a staffer make edits to her Wikipedia page, a move she
later admitted was unwise and something she
regretted.

In 2021 she also came under fire for attending
a Voices for Freedom anti-vaccination rally, so her move
to New Zealand First puts her in similar company, with
leader Winston Peters having met
with those who occupied Parliament’s forecourt for weeks in
early 2022.

National MPs criticised Hipango for
her controversial views at the time, telling Newsroom’s Jo
Moir she “sailed her own waka” with others saying she was
not well-liked within the caucus.

However, she told
RNZ that had not played a part in her decision to leave
National.

“Not at all. Not at all. What prompted me to
be here on Saturday is that New Zealand First, I think, is
resonating the general feel of New Zealanders,” she
said.

“I was criticised generally. All politicians are
criticised and open to publicly fodder and feed – no sooner
was I in here than I got sent an article on New Zealand
First, so couple of pot shots still being taken – goes with
the territory.”

“New Zealand First, I think, is
resonating the general feel of New Zealanders.

“I am
sensing that there is going to be momentum and pick up on
those issues. Time will
tell.”

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