National MP Paulo Garcia has announced he will not seek re-election at the 2026 General Election.
Mr Garcia entered Parliament in 2019, becoming New Zealand’s first MP of Filipino descent, and made history in 2023 by turning the New Lynn electorate blue for the first time.
“It has been a privilege to serve as the MP for New Lynn and to represent my community,” Mr Garcia says.
“I’ve loved every minute of the job and I plan to keep working hard to ensure a National Government is re-elected in 2026.
“I’m proud of the work the National Party is doing to get New Zealand back on track. We’ve made strong progress over the past two years, but there is still more to do to fix the basics and build a future where everyone has the opportunity to create the life they want.”
Reflecting on his time in Parliament, Mr Garcia paid tribute to the Filipino community.
“It has been a tremendous honour to become New Zealand’s first Filipino MP and to represent a community that contributes so much to our country. Thank you to the tens of thousands of Filipinos working as doctors, nurses, aged-care workers, construction workers, farmers, and across many other professions. Your contribution to New Zealand is invaluable.”
After the 2026 election, Mr Garcia plans to return to legal practice at his firm, Paulo Garcia Barristers & Solicitors.