Waatea Election Poll – NZF has real popularity & Te Pāti Māori are not dead

In a political landscape dominated by corporate polling firms and Wellington insider chatter, sometimes the most revealing signals come from unexpected places. A Waatea “Question of the Day” has sparked serious engagement – and the numbers hint at shifting Māori political dynamics ahead of 2026.

• Labour Party – 38%
• NZ First – 16%
• Green Party – 14%
• Te Pāti Māori – 12%
• National Party – 5%
• ACT Party – 1%

A Non-Scientific Poll – But Politically Revealing

Interesting response to Waatea’s Question of the Day that shows NZF has real popularity & Te Pāti Māori are not dead. The caveats are this isn’t a Scientific Poll, but it has meaning:

The Engagement Numbers Matter

The question generated:

• 571 comments across Waatea’s platforms
• 33,059 people engaged with the post
• 64% of those engaging were aged 35-54
• The majority of respondents were women

For context, Radio Waatea remains New Zealand’s largest Māori radio station, with nearly 116,000 followers on Facebook, around 145,000 on TikTok, and close to one million hits per month on waateanews.com. This kind of engagement reflects a politically aware and active audience – particularly within the 35–54 age bracket. 

Comparing This to the Last Election’s Māori Vote