A first time New Plymouth District Councilor is crediting a change in community attitudes for his election.
Dinnie Moeahu secured a spot in Saturday's election on a council which has in the past been driven over the issue of Māori representation.
He believes the controversies had led to a shift in community attitudes which made it the right time to stand.
"As a community people are becoming more educated and when they become more educated there seems to be more empathy, especially towards Māori issues and this is where I felt there was a chance for people to see candidates of Māori descent and see their character as opposed to their race and I was willing to bet on it," Mr Moeahu says.
He says giving back to the community is an extension of the work of his tupuna.
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