Shanan Halbert looks set to continue his parliamentary career through Labour’s list, keeping an openly gay Māori voice in the House as the preliminary election count unfolds.
Shanan Halbert is on course to return to Parliament, with Labour’s election-night seat projection putting its number 19 candidate in a strong position to retain his place in the House.
The preliminary nationwide count checked at 11.43pm on Saturday 7 November had Labour on 29.17 per cent, with 35 seats projected: 20 electorate seats and 15 list seats. Halbert’s ranking places him comfortably within the party’s projected parliamentary team.
His likely return would continue a political career that began with his election as Northcote MP in 2020. After losing the electorate in 2023, he returned to Parliament through Labour’s list in February 2024.
A List Path Back
Halbert’s position on Labour’s list is the basis for his projected success tonight. In Northcote, National’s Dan Bidois remained ahead in the preliminary electorate count.
With 73 of 86 results counted, Bidois had 15,885 votes to Halbert’s 12,841, a margin of 3,044. Those figures do not support declaring an electorate victory for Halbert, but his parliamentary future is also determined by Labour’s nationwide party vote.
An Established Rainbow Voice
For rainbow readers, Halbert’s projected return means the likely continuation of a familiar advocate in Parliament. He has previously held Labour’s rainbow issues portfolio and has used YOUR EX columns and interviews to discuss inclusive education and the wellbeing of rainbow young people.
Halbert has spoken publicly about being a gay Māori man. His work before politics included more than 15 years in tertiary education, and he entered the election as Labour’s spokesperson for Tertiary Education and Whānau Ora.
His list ranking also reflected a stronger position within Labour: he rose from number 28 in 2023 to number 19 for this election.
Confirmation Still To Come
Tonight’s figures remain preliminary. Special votes and the official count can alter party totals, electorate margins and the allocation of list seats.
The Electoral Commission expects to publish the official result on Friday 27 November. For now, Halbert is strongly placed for another term, with his return projected rather than formally confirmed.
