Asian candidates eye larger representation in Parliament

New Zealand’s growing Asian population is poised to gain greater political representation in Parliament following the upcoming general election in November, according to recent polling data and anticipated party list rankings. Currently, eleven politicians of Asian heritage serve in the House of Representatives, but this number is expected to rise significantly if projections remain consistent. Recent polling conducted by RNZ-Reid Research in July indicates that Labour holds the lead with 34 percent of the party vote, followed by National at 28.7 percent, New Zealand First at 11.5 percent, the Green Party at 10.3 percent, ACT at 7.8 percent, and Te Pāti Māori at 2.3 percent. Under this scenario, the governing coalition, comprising National, New Zealand First, and ACT, would secure 61 seats, while Labour would obtain 43 seats, the Greens 13, and Te Pāti Māori three. This outcome hinges on whether the Opportunity Party crosses the 5 percent threshold, which it currently trails at 4.7 percent. Among the most prominent Asian candidates vying for parliamentary seats is Ayesha Verrall, a former Health Minister and Labour List MP of Maldivian descent. Ranked sixth on Labour’s party list, she is considered the strongest contender among Asian candidates. Based on current polling, Labour could field up to four MPs of Asian heritage in the next term. Other notable figures include Vanushi Walters, a Sri Lankan New Zealander and Labour’s foreign affairs spokesperson, ranked eighth on the party list, along with Rakesh Naidoo, a career policeman of Indian ethnicity ranked 13th, and Priyanca Radhakrishnan, an Indian-born list MP ranked 18th. Kharag Singh, a small business owner of Indian descent, ranks 61st on Labour’s list but may still secure a seat if he regains the Takanini electorate from National’s Rima Nakhle. In 2023, Nakhle defeated Labour’s Neru Leavasa by over 8,000 votes. However, with nearly 40 percent of Takanini’s population identifying as Indian, Singh sees potential for a shift in fortunes. Meanwhile, National faces challenges in securing Indian-origin representation. In 2023, the party fielded five Indian candidates, but all ran in Labour-held electorates and failed to win. Three of these candidates, Karuna Muthu from Wellington Bays, Ankit Bansal from Palmerston North, and Mahesh Muralidhar, are returning in 2026. Muralidhar, who narrowly lost to Green Party leader Chlöe Swarbrick in Auckland Central last year, now seeks victory in the Tāmaki electorate after Brooke van Velden, the former ACT deputy leader, retired from politics. Tāmaki was historically a National stronghold until van Velden won it in 2023. Three new Indian New Zealanders are running for National in 2026: Lalit Arya in Ōtāhuhu, Sunil Kumar in Glendene, and Ghouse Majeed in Manurewa. These electorates are largely opposition strongholds, meaning the only path to Parliament for these candidates lies through high party list rankings. National has not yet released its party lists, unlike Labour, the Greens, and the Opportunity Party, which have made theirs public. Among National’s existing candidates of Asian descent are Melissa Lee, a senior MP of South Korean heritage, and Nancy Lu, a list MP of Chinese descent. Both are confirmed to stand again in 2026. The increasing presence of Asian candidates in New Zealand politics reflects broader demographic shifts within the country. As the Asian community continues to grow, so too does its influence on the political landscape. The coming months will determine how effectively these candidates translate their support into parliamentary representation.