October 10, 2022
Wahine Māori take mayoral reins
The country now has three wahine Māori mayors, Tania Tapsell in Rotorua Lakes Council, Faylene Tunui in Kawerau and Tory Whanau in Wellington.
Ms Tapsell, who was the highest-polling councillor in previous elections, surged ahead of a crowded field to finish 2862 votes ahead of former New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau.
She’s the first Māori mayor in the city since Harry Dansey in 1941.
Ms Tapsell says her nine years on council has prepared her for the role, but she puts the win down to hard campaign work.
“I’m just doing this because I love helping others and I love serving the community so to have stumbled across such a milestone in our history, that part is still sinking in for me,” she says.
Outgoing mayor Steve Chadwick says the 30-year-old will have to deal with big challenges such as housing and community safety, and she will be working with a divided council.
Long-serving councillor Trevor Maxwell was returned in the new Māori ward, along with Lani Kereopa and Rawiri Waru, but no Māori candidates were returned in the general ward.
Merepeka Raukawa-Tait was the highest-polling non-elected candidate, and will be waiting for Thursday’s final count to see if special votes can get her over the line.
In Wellington, former Green Party chief of staff Tory Whanau trounced one-term mayor Andy Foster, while Labour’s Rongotai MP Paul Eagle ran fourth.
There’s also a tight race for the council’s new Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward, with Nīkau Wi Neera five votes ahead of Matthew Reweti with final results still to be confirmed.
Louis Rapihana was the second highest polling mayoral candidate but lost his Coast ward seat to Maxie Kemara.
An indicative referendum on Maori wards was won by one vote, 1499 votes to 1498.
Faylene Tunui who served two terms as a Councilor stood upopposed as mayor for Kawerau. Another wahine Māori, Lyn Reisterer, has been ousted as mayor of Opotiki, with councillor David Moore stepping up.