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Porirua's new deputy mayor says she wants to ensure all groups in the city can engage with the council, and especially its large Maori and Pasifika populations.
Ana Coffey, who has Te Atiawa, Tongan and Pakeha whakapapa, topped the poll in the city's western ward.
The 35-year-old mother of four is the instigator of the Titahi Bay Fair and led the Council's public support for marriage equality as the Bill legalising gay marriage came before Parliament.
She says it's a young city and the council reflects its population, but it can't get complacent.
"I just think it's really important that we are not always listening to the loudest, most opinionated voices in our community that we are actually going deep in our communities and really trying to hear from all different kinds of people who wouldn't normally come to the council table. Part of me thinks why do we need to have people come to the council table, the council should be going to people where they are," Ms Coffey says.
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