Waiariki (New Zealand electorate)

Waiariki is a New Zealand parliamentary Māori electorate that was established for the, replacing the Te Tai Rawhiti electorate. It is currently held by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, who won it in the 2020 and 2023 general elections.

Waiariki was an important electorate in the 2020 election as Waititi's win allowed the Māori Party to re-enter parliament with two MPs, despite not reaching the 5% party vote threshold needed for parties without an electorate seat.

Population centres
The electorate includes the following population centres:
 * Tauranga
 * Whakatāne
 * Rotorua
 * Taupō

In the 2013/14 redistribution, a minor boundary adjustment was undertaken. A small area, including the village of Tuai, was transferred to Waiariki from the electorate.

Tribal areas
The electorate includes the following tribal areas:
 * Waitaha-Nui-ā-Hei
 * Ngāti Ranginui
 * Ngāi Te Rangi
 * Te Arawa
 * Ngāti Awa
 * Ngāi Tūhoe
 * Whakatōhea
 * Ngāi Tai
 * Te Whānau-ā-Apanui
 * Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa
 * Ngāti Tūwharetoa

History
The electorate was created for the. The first representative was Mita Ririnui of the Labour Party, with Tuariki Delamere (Te Tawharau) coming second, Arapeta Tahana (Alliance) coming third and Kahukore Baker (New Zealand First) coming fourth.

In the, Ririnui was confirmed with 61.93% of the electorate vote. Rihi Vercoe and Hamuera Mitchell of Mana Māori and the National Party came second and third, respectively.

In the, Ririnui was beaten by Te Ururoa Flavell of the Māori Party. Hawea Vercoe of Destiny New Zealand came a distant third. The was contested by two contenders: the incumbent and Ririnui. Flavell was once again confirmed.

The was contested by three contenders: Flavell, Annette Sykes of the Mana Party and Louis Te Kani of the Labour Party. Flavell had a comfortable lead over Sykes, with Te Kani coming third. In the, Flavell gained a much increased majority.

Labour's Tāmati Coffey beat Flavell in. This left the Māori Party without any electorate seats, and consequently, no parliamentary representation as they had not reached the 5% party vote threshold required to enter Parliament without winning an electorate. The Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi won the electorate back at the, which allowed the Māori Party to have two MPs.

Members of Parliament
Key

List MPs
Members of Parliament elected from party lists in elections where that person also unsuccessfully contested the Waiariki electorate. Unless otherwise stated, all MPs terms began and ended at general elections.

2011 election
Electorate (as at 26 November 2011): 33,240

2002 election
1 United Future swing is compared to 1999 results from both United NZ and Future NZ combined, as the two merged in 2000.