June 27, 2022
Eagle eyes Wellington mayoralty
Labour Rongotai MP Paul Eagle is odds on to become Wellington’s first Māori Mayor after announcing he was taking leave from Parliament to run in October’s election.
Mr Eagle was a councillor and deputy mayor before entering parliament.
He says sitting mayor Andy Foster failed to bring people together and have a plan, despite being on the council for nearly 30 years.
He’s running as an independent, although Labour is endorsing him.
Party general secretary Rob Salmond says he will bring Wellingtonians’ progressive values to the Wellington mayoralty, and represents a strong positive change for the city on critical issues like housing, transport, and infrastructure.
Mr Eagle will take three months’ leave during the campaign period and donate his salary to charity.
If he wins he will resign as MP, triggering a by-election in the safe Labour seat.
Mr Foster has not yet confirmed he will run.
Other contenders so far are Tory Whanau from the Green Party, independent Ray Chung, Dr Barbara McKenzie, who is opposing the council’s Significant Natural Areas policy, and Ellen Blake, who is also standing for the Pukehīnau Lambton ward.