March 14, 2019
Kaumātua the pou for Meng Foon’s long mayoralty
Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon says time's up, and he won't stand again.
The Māori-speaking mayor says it's time for his life to take other directions after 24 years in public life.
He says he has been well supported by many people, including rangatira Māori who have passed on.
"They've been my pou, my good friends. People like Apirana Mahuika, who opened many doors for me in Wellington and at home here, KD Dewes, Kaponga Dewes, always on the marae waxing lyrically about the roads and so on so pushing the boundaries of local government," he says.
Meng Foon also paid tribute to J-Force veteran Rutene Irwin, who died this week in his 93rd year and who connected him to the network of Māori Battalion veterans.
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