Te Tawharau (roughly translated as "the shelter") was a MÃÂori political party in New Zealand.
Te Tawharau briefly had representation in Parliament when Tuariki Delamere, a former New Zealand First MP, transferred his loyalty to it. In the 1999 elections, Te Tawharau contested electorates under its own banner, but contested the party vote as part of the Mana MÃÂori Movement. It did not, however, win any seats, with Delamere losing his position to Mita Ririnui of the Labour Party. Te Tawharau was founded by Delamere, the late Wharekaihua Coates, known as Willie Coates, and Rangitukehu David Paul. Te Tawharau was founded on the principles espoused by Te Haahi Ringatu (the Ringatu Church) and sought to persuade the MÃÂori people to recognise that under the new MMP voting system it was possible for MÃÂori to hold the balance of power if MÃÂori was able to unite under a common umbrella.
The party contested the with six list candidates.
In the the MÃÂori parties of Te Tawharau, Mana MÃÂori and Piri Wiri Tua formed a political alliance to hold the balance of power. Te Tawharau did not put forward a party list and the 1999 alliance did not win any seats, the next step in that journey of MÃÂori political awakening was reached in 2005 with the MÃÂori Party winning four of the MÃÂori electorates.
While Te Tawharau has not formally been absorbed into the new MÃÂori Party, as Te Tawharau has lapsed as a political organisation, the elements and people behind Te Tawharau supported the MÃÂori Party. In 2007, Te Tawharau requested and received deregistration.