New Zealand First is today announcing our next set of confirmed candidates to stand in the general election.
This latest tranche shows the growing list of candidates with a wide range of skills, experience, and backgrounds New Zealand First will have representing the party across the country in this coming election.
Harete Hipango-Brownlie, Whanganui:
Hipango-Brownlie is a former National Party Member of Parliament, lawyer, and dedicated public servant with more than 30 years' experience serving New Zealand communities across law, health, governance and public policy. She is standing for New Zealand First in the Whanganui electorate, bringing a lifetime of leadership, advocacy and service to the community she calls home.
Hipango-Brownlie served as the Member of Parliament holding the seat of Whanganui from 2017 to 2020 before returning to Parliament as a List MP in 2021 until 2023.
Before entering Parliament, Hipango-Brownlie served on the Whanganui District Health Board.
Grounded in both Māori and European heritage, Hipango-Brownlie brings a unique perspective shaped by decades of experience working across the justice system, public service, iwi organisations and Parliament. She is committed to strong communities, responsible governance, practical solutions and ensuring Whanganui has a strong, experienced voice advocating for its future.
Te Kira Lawrence, East Cape:
Lawrence is a sitting Napier City Councillor, dedicated community leader, and experienced public servant who has built her career around serving people, strengthening communities, and delivering practical results.
With more than two decades of experience in administration, stakeholder engagement, governance, and community relations, Lawrence brings a strong record of getting things done. She currently serves as an Outreach Advisor in the New Zealand First Leader's Office, working closely with communities, stakeholders, and Members of Parliament to ensure local voices are heard and reflected in decision-making.
In 2025, Lawrence was elected to the Napier City Council, where she serves on several key committees, including Risk and Assurance, Community-Led Initiatives, flood resilience, and regional waste planning. She also holds the council's multicultural portfolio and represents the council on the Waipureku Waitangi Charitable Trust, helping strengthen community partnerships and inclusive engagement across Hawke's Bay.
Her earlier career included roles in health, business management, architecture, and the wool industry, giving her broad experience across both the public and private sectors.
As New Zealand First's candidate for East Cape, she is committed to standing up for the region's families, businesses, rural communities, and local industries, ensuring the region has a strong voice advocating for practical solutions and a prosperous future.
Tracey Coxhead, Mt Manganui:
Coxhead currently serves as a Western Bay of Plenty District Councillor being elected in 2022 and re-elected in 2025. She brings more than 40 years of leadership experience across banking, financial services, business ownership and local government.
A Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Life Underwriter, Tracey holds postgraduate business qualifications from Massey University and has served on numerous professional committees, including as a former director of the Insurance and Financial Advisers Association (IFA NZ). Her extensive governance experience has been strengthened through decades of leadership in both the financial sector and local government.
Coxhead has built a reputation as a diligent and independent representative who values careful decision-making, strong financial management and listening to the communities she serves.
Coxhead and her husband live in Te Puna and are proud parents of four adult children and grandparents. She enjoys spending time with family, travelling, hiking and giving back to her local community. She is standing for Parliament because she believes New Zealand needs experienced, practical leadership that puts communities first.
Kym McDonald-King, Dunedin:
McDonald-King is a lifelong advocate for community, public service and practical solutions. With a career spanning healthcare, business, community engagement and politics, she brings more than 25 years of frontline experience working with New Zealanders from all walks of life.
Born and raised in the South Island, McDonald-King has made Dunedin her home and is passionate about ensuring the city and wider Otago region remain great places to live, work and raise families. She began her professional career as a registered nurse, spending over a decade in hospital and rural health services. Working in emergency care, palliative care, aged care and rural nursing, she developed a deep appreciation for the challenges facing New Zealand's health system and the importance of compassionate, practical leadership. During her nursing career she also served as a union representative, advocating for staff and contributing to successful pay equity negotiations.
McDonald-King serves as an Outreach Advisor in the New Zealand First Leader's Office, where she works closely with MPs, community organisations and stakeholders throughout the South Island. Her role centres on building strong community connections, facilitating public engagement and ensuring local voices are heard in Parliament.
Standing for New Zealand First in Dunedin, she is committed to championing local communities, supporting hardworking New Zealanders and ensuring government decisions reflect the realities faced by everyday families. Her focus is on listening, delivering practical outcomes and helping build a stronger future for Dunedin and New Zealand.
Billy Brown, Rotorua:
Brown is a respected infrastructure leader and business executive with more than 25 years' experience delivering major civil construction and infrastructure projects across New Zealand and the Pacific.
Brown currently serves as General Manager of MAP Projects Ltd, leading a business operating across New Zealand and the Pacific. He oversees a multi-million-dollar infrastructure portfolio, guiding strategic planning, financial governance, workforce development, and regional growth.
Before joining MAP Projects, Brown was Construction and Operations Manager with Higgins, where he managed large-scale transport and civil infrastructure projects throughout New Zealand and Fiji. Earlier in his career, he held senior operational roles with McConnell Dowell and Civil Construction Ltd.
Having started his career on the tools before progressing into senior executive leadership, Brown understands the challenges facing working New Zealanders and small businesses. His experience spans commercial governance, financial management, workforce development, and regional economic growth, giving him firsthand insight into the infrastructure and investment needed to strengthen local communities.
As New Zealand First's candidate for Rotorua, Brown is committed to delivering practical solutions, backing local enterprise, investing in essential infrastructure, and ensuring that government works for the people and communities it serves. He believes strong leadership, fiscal responsibility, and common sense are essential to building a more prosperous future for Rotorua and New Zealand.
