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October 04, 2022
Tepania putting Māori edge into mayoral contest
Gideon Porter
Posted On October 4, 2022
One of the five Māori running to be the next mayor of the Far North District says it’s impossible to call a winner until the election is over.
Moko Tepania says sitting councillors, who also include Whangaroa’s Kelly Stratford, Ann Court and John Vujcich, have the highest name recognition and the best prospects to replace John Carter in the top job.
He believes he’s best placed to lead a council which will be fundamentally changed by the addition of four councillors in the new Maori ward.
“I think if there’s anyone who can walk in both worlds, who can speak te reo Maori, who is just as comfortable in any one of our 164 marae as in one of our 34 community halls in this district, then I would probably put my hand up,” Mr Tepania says.
He says with the ward changes he hopes Maori will finally feel part of local government decision-making.
Ballots for this year’s local body elections need to be in by this Saturday, October 8.
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