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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.
Cushla Tangaere-Manuel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti | |
| Assumed office 14 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Meka Whaitiri |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Russell Manuel |
| Profession | Chief executive officer |
Tangaere-Manuel was born in Te Puia Springs and raised in Tikitiki.[1] She received her education at Ngata Memorial College, where she was 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.[4] Campbell Dewes, who was chair during Tangaere-Manuel's tenure, said of her:
Cushla brought her reo (language) and tikanga (protocol, customs) to the table and emphasised the importance of our whanaungatanga (family values and ethos) and manaakitanga (hospitality), Ngati Poroutanga.[4]
She went to serve as the Māori Rugby Programme Manager / Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa Whutupōro Māori for the 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]
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| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–present | 54th | Ikaroa-Rāwhiti | none | Labour | |
In the lead-up to the 2023 election Tangaere-Manuel was selected as Labour's candidate for the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti seat after Meka Whaitiri left Labour and 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, Tangaere-Manuel became spokesperson for tourism and hospitality, forestry, and cyclone recovery in the Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins.[12]
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Tangaere-Manuel is married and has eight siblings.[1][3][13]
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