Tory Whanau | Mayor of Wellington

Tory Whanau, the outgoing Mayor of Wellington, made history as a wahine Māori leader in local government. Her tenure was marked by progressive policy initiatives and a bold, unapologetic leadership style. However, her final speech revealed the deeply entrenched challenges she faced—particularly as a woman of colour in a political environment rife with misogyny, harassment, and systemic resistance to change.