Cushla Tangaere-Manuel

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 Te Puia Springs and raised in Tikitiki. She received her education at Ngata Memorial College, where she was head girl. She is from Rangitukia and spent time at Hinepare Marae while she was growing up.

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.

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. 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.

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.

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. On 11 March 2025, Tangaere-Manuel was appointed assistant whip of the Labour Party.

In mid-March 2026, Tangaere-Manuel gained the emergency management and Natural Hazards Commission portfolios while retaining her forestry, Māori economy and sports and recreation portfolios.

Personal life Tangaere-Manuel is married and has eight siblings.