The Labour MP’s dream pub quiz pick? ‘Nicola Willis – a little bit mean girl, every quiz team needs one.’

It’s 4.30pm on a Tuesday, but it’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right? With a gin and tonic in hand, Labour MP Shanan Halbert eases back on the plush teal couch at Pint of Order, having juggled meetings and House duties since 7am with another six hours of work to go as parliament sits under urgency. Halbert was 14 when he first got the idea that someone could be a politician, and 30 years later, in 2020, he made it into parliament as the electorate MP for Northcote.

Now a list MP, having returned to parliament to fill the vacancy left by Kelvin Davis’s departure in February 2024, this time around he’s enjoyed being able to figure out “who is Shanan Halbert the politician, actually?”, he says. “I’ve given more of my Māori rainbow self, without having to stick to what could be classed as a conservative community in many aspects,” Halbert says. “As a list MP, you have to find your lane. I feel like I’ve really found that this term, I’ve been able to give more of myself.”

The lane Halbert’s taking lately includes a big focus on tertiary education, having gained the portfolio in Labour’s early 2025 reshuffle. Pre-politics, Halbert spent his “whole career” in roles at the likes of AUT and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. He reckons there’s far more mahi to be done to lift the hopes of those 90,000 or so people aged 15-24 currently not in employment, education or training.

“I’m 43 now, and the opportunities that were offered to me are much harder to come by for people in their 20s,” he says. “I think about our rural communities, like Tairāwhiti and Te Tai Tokerau, that under [the Te Pukenga disestablishment will have] less courses, less campuses, have to swap to online learning … Why would we not invest in the best opportunities for our young people?”

With an upcoming election, Halbert’s knows his party has a “massive job” ahead. “People have a very hard choice this year. It’s not easy for New Zealand to change a government. With the anxiety that’s out there, people want stability, they want to know they’ve got mahi coming up – I just hope that over the next few months I am able to give some hope and aspiration to the everyday people who are struggling.”

Halbert’s got one of those brains that’s constantly go, go, go. Which is why it’s important to get a daily hīkoi in and get your steps up, he says – he’s not as sporty as his Mōkai Pātea cousin Tama Potaka, but he tries his best. Equally effective at shutting that busy brain up is a good Married at First Sight Australia binge; he’s currently five episodes in, and rooting for Alissa and David. “I was worried about her after the first episode, but she’s a nurse and was amazing when she cared for him after his injury.”

At home in Northcote, Halbert lives with his partner Anthony, a former Pharmac director who quit over the government’s directive on te Tiriti (“I was very proud”), and their German shepherd, Whiti. They’ve just spent the summer renovating the bungalow they’ve owned for 16 years to make it more modern, and, despite being very much the power couple, Halbert doesn’t mind the idea of taking on the role of house husband. “If I wasn’t in politics, I’d be very happy to be at home,” he smiles. Feet up, watching MAFS.

THE SPINOFF PUB Q+A

How much should a pint cost?

Everyone deserves to be able to have a beer, so $10.

Do you have a karaoke go-to?

‘Angels’ by Robbie Williams. The [Labour] Māori caucus hosts a very famous annual karaoke night, and that’s the event of the year for us. I think, as a politician, you always have to get up and [take part]. So, my plan is that I always get up and do it early – it’s like rounds of drinks, you buy the first drinks and everyone remembers you’ve done it and you’re sweet for the rest of the night.

Favourite place to get a drink in Aotearoa?

Northcote Tavern, my local. It’s down Northcote Point, a big old villa with a big garden. Some local farmers have owned it forever, their daughters Sara and Ange run the business now. They’ve got a massive outdoor lawn area with bar tables and umbrellas, with people our age and our parents’ age. Everyone goes there for a good drink and a good time. I’m hosting an event there on Sunday for my supporters – they call it the “trough”.

Which three MPs would be on your pub quiz team?

Nicola Willis – a little bit mean girl, every quiz team needs one. Winston Peters, because he can recite anything from any time and age. His photographic memory is like an elephant. And then we’ll put up Mr Speaker [Gerry Brownlee], because somebody’s got to know the rules.

Which MP from across the aisle would you most like to share a drink with?

Winston Peters; I’ve got a lot of respect for him. I think we come from totally different places, but I’m also humble enough to know the pecking order. But there’s also knowledge you can share, and I’m brave enough to share with him what I think.

Is there an alcohol-related law you would like to change?

I think it’s important that we educate more, particularly around the binge drinking culture in New Zealand. When we attach that to health and the impact on healthcare – like the number of people visiting EDs – that’s quite problematic.

We’re currently doing the Anzac Day/Christmas [trading] law in the House. I think that’s good, I’m really comfortable with people having a drink when they want to. They should have that access to be able to enjoy themselves with their friends and family, but putting the right support mechanisms in place is important.

And, a technical one: you know how every time we have a major event, we have to change legislation [to sell alcohol]? I’ve never understood why not just do one big legislation, rather than an amendment at every event.

What’s a policy area we’ve been nursing without finishing the glass?

Just one? Probably the investment in young people, and how we – whether it’s this government, whether it’s our future government – are actually going to get those young people engaged. It’s a big focus for me, and it’s unfinished business. It’s something like 9,000 people per year we’ve lost over the last couple of years. Not only is it young lives and opportunities, it’s a whole workforce to build houses.

What qualities make a good drinking partner?

You’ve got to be fun. If you can dance, that’s good, but it’s the ability to enjoy yourself on the night.

Have you ever had a Schnapps election moment where you regretted your political instinct?

I try not to make too many decisions when I’m drinking.