October 17, 2022
Far North puts Moko on mayoralty
New Far North mayor Moko Tepania says he’s excited the council is starting to reflect the communities of the north.
After special votes, the Kaikohe Kura kaupapa teacher extended his lead over long-term councillor Ann Court to 443 votes.
His election means Babe Kapa will take the fourth Maori ward seat, and with Kelly Stratford picking up a Whangaroa ward seat a majority around the council table will have whakapapa Maori.
Mr Tepania says his priority is to build strong relationships with all councillors so they are working together to raise standards for everyone living in the north.
“And one of the things we’ll always remind people is what’s good for Maori is good for everyone. There are huge deficits to address. We are still in a time of working our way out of colonisation and the 180 years that have come from that and if there is a way council can contribute to progressing us positively forward then by all means I am going to be at the head of that and making sure we do those kinds of things,” he says.
Mr Tepania says the Far North often seems to be left to last in central funding decisions, so he will grab any opportunity to address issues such as transport and roading.