Shanan Halbert

Halbert has affiliation to Rongowhakaata and Ngāti Whitikaupeka.[2] He grew up in Napier, but moved to Auckland after graduating from high school. He has a BA in education and Māori from Auckland University, a certificate in Contemporary Performing Arts from AUT, and started but did not complete an MBA.[3] Halbert has worked at Glenfield College, where he set up the Health Sciences Academy, and at Catholic college Hato Petera.[4] He was the Head of Relationships at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.[5]

Halbert stood as a list-only candidate for Labour in the 2014 general election. His party list ranking of 48 was too low to win a seat.[6] In the 2017 general election, he sought the Labour Party selection for the Auckland Central seat, losing to Helen White. He instead contested the Northcote electorate; he neither won the electorate nor won a list seat on his party list ranking of 51. In 2018, after the resignation of Jonathan Coleman, Halbert contested the Northcote by-election as Labour's candidate, having been chosen for the candidacy over Paul McGreal and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills.[5][7] He was defeated by National's Dan Bidois.

In the 2020 general election, Halbert was again ranked 51st on the Labour party list and contested the Northcote electorate. This time, Halbert won the seat from incumbent Dan Bidois by just 2534.[8][4]

Halbert has for years campaigned on improving public transport, as congestion in the Northcote electorate—located at the northern landing of the Auckland Harbour Bridge—is a defining issue for many voters.[9] For the 2020 campaign, he also campaigned in support of local businesses and advocated for improved access to mental health services.[4] His father died of lung cancer on election day.[10]

Halbert is one of 13 MPs in the 2020 Parliament who identify as LGBTQI+.[11]