Māori health advocate and community leader Denise Messiter-Nin is making history as the only woman and Māori candidate standing for mayor of the Thames-Coromandel District Council.
With over 40 years of experience in governance, business, and social advocacy, Messiter-Nin says her campaign is about amplifying unheard voices and building a better future for all.
“…one of my platforms in standing was to be able to bring the voices that are always unheard to the table. So for me, acknowledgement from those unheard voices has been supportive and encouraging and an acknowledgement. We do know our community, so when I say we, I know that in standing, this isn’t a Denise thing, this is an us thing. I’m just, I’m one person standing on the shoulders of many people that have gone before me…” says Messiter-Nin.
She is campaigning on six key platforms: environmental protection, fair rates, financial sustainability, water sovereignty, pay equity, and community co-governance, issues she says resonate with all people.
“Now I’ve stood on those six platforms right from day one, and that’s what I mean by one of the pleasant surprises has been the support that’s come from all sectors, all ethnicities and the range of genders that there are in our community,” says Messiter-Nin.
With voter turnout still low, she hopes her message of inclusive leadership will inspire more residents to have their say.
Voting closes Saturday 11 October at 12:00pm.
