September 09, 2022
Cool head running for hot job
Paakiwaha, Teanau Tuiono, local body elections, Wellington mayoralty
A cool head is how Green MP Teanau Tuiono describes Wellington’s mayoral candidate Tory Whanau.
She’s considered one of the three front-runners with former deputy mayor turned MP Paul Eagle and incumbent Andy Foster, with some pundits warning that splitting the vote between two strong Maori candidates could extend Mr Foster’s grip on the mayoral chains.
Mr Tuiono says he knows Ms Whanau from her time as the Greens’ chief of staff.
“Smart, able to manage and negotiate with people and make sure there is a working relationship. She will be a great mayor for Wellington so I am backing her totally. She has taken us through a couple of election campaigns, not easy ones as well, so a cool head,” he says.
Teanau Tuiono
Stuff is currently running an online poll which should give voters a sense of the race once ballot papers go out next week.