Cushla Tangaere-Manuel

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Cushla Tangaere-Manuel
MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
Incumbent
Assumed office
14 October 2023
Preceded byMeka Whaitiri
Personal details
Political partyLabour
SpouseRussell Manuel
ProfessionChief executive officer

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party. She represents the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate and was first elected at the 2023 general election. Prior to entering parliament, Tangaere-Manuel worked as a broadcaster for TVNZ and Whakaata Māori, and as a sports administrator.

Early life and career

Tangaere-Manuel was born in

head girl.[2] She is from Rangitukia and spent time at Hinepare Marae while she was growing up.[3][4] She is of Ngāti Porou descent, born on 21 December.[1]

Tangaere-Manuel worked for many years as a broadcaster at both TVNZ and Whakaata Māori, including as a reporter on the TV series Marae and presenting the talent show Māorioke.[5][6][1] In 2009 she was the director and reporter on an item produced for Marae about an experimental youth court held on Te Poho O Rawiri Marae in Gisborne.[7]

After working as a broadcaster Tangaere-Manuel changed to sports administration and for nine years was chief executive officer of the East Coast Rugby Football Union (NPEC), leaving in 2022. Tangaere-Manuel was one of many women working in advocacy and leadership for East Coast rugby, including Kath McLean and Agnes Walker. Her late father-in-law, John Manuel, had been president of NPEC.[4]

In her chief executive role she led the East Coast Rugby Union out of overdraft to annual surpluses and an increase in the number to eight representative teams. She saw women's rugby on the rise, and new headquarters built.

New Zealand Rugby Union.[8][5][1]

She has served on the boards of

Kura Kaupapa Māori, iwi radio and the New Zealand Amateur Sports Association.[1]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2023–present 54th Ikaroa-Rāwhiti none Labour

In the lead-up to the

waka jumped to Te Pāti Māori earlier that year.[5] She ran as an electorate candidate only and was not on the party list.[9] Tangaere-Manuel won the seat by a margin of 2,874 votes, and was one of just two new MPs elected in Labour's defeat in 2023 along with Reuben Davidson.[10][11]

Following the formation of the National-led coalition government in late November 2023, Tangaere-Manuel became spokesperson for tourism and hospitality, forestry, and cyclone recovery in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[12]

Following a shadow cabinet reshuffle in early March 2025, Tangaere-Manuel joined Hipkins' economic team. She retained the forestry portfolio and gained the Māori economy and sports and recreation portfolios. She lost the tourism and hospitality, and cyclone recovery portfolios.[13] On 11 March 2025, Tangaere-Manuel was appointed assistant whip of the Labour Party.[14]

Personal life

Tangaere-Manuel is married and has eight siblings.[1][3][15]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Muru-Lanning, Charlotte (10 October 2023). "Cushla Tangaere-Manuel can sing– but are the voters listening?". The Spinoff. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  2. ^ "Ex-TVNZ reporter, climate protester & rugby boss: The new MPs on track to enter Parliament". Newstalk ZB. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  3. ^ a b Hamilton-Irvine, Gary (15 October 2023). "Ikaroa-Rāwhiti election 2023 results: Cushla Tangaere-Manuel's special moment before election win, Meka Whaitiri ousted". Hawke's Bay Today. Retrieved 17 October 2023 – via The New Zealand Herald.
  4. ^ a b c d "Tangaere-Manuel, NPEC's longest-serving CEO, farewelled". Ngāti Porou East Coast. 6 January 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c McConnell, Glenn (27 June 2023). "Rugby boss Cushla Tangaere-Manuel to stand for Labour in Ikaroa Rāwhiti". Stuff. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Cushla Tangaere-Manuel to run for Labour in Ikaroa-Rāwhiti". Radio New Zealand. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Marae; Marae Compilation – Youth Court". Ngā Taonga. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  8. ^ "New Zealand Māori Rugby Board Annual Report 2022". NZ Rugby. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Prime Minister has high hopes for Ikaroa Rawhiti candidate Cushla Tangaere-Manuel over Meka Whaitiri". The New Zealand Herald. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  10. ^ Scotcher, Katie (16 October 2023). "Devastated Labour MPs prepare for spell in political wilderness". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Ikaroa-Rawhiti - Official Result". Electoral Commission. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins reveals new shadow Cabinet". Radio New Zealand. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  13. ^ Palmer, Russell (7 March 2025). "Chris Hipkins announces new Labour 'economic team', Tangi Utikere promoted". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 7 March 2025. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Tangaere-Manuel, Cushla". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  15. ^ "National Pānui" (PDF). Māori Land Court. December 2018. p. 9. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti
2023–present 		Incumbent
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