October 07, 2019
Ngāi Tahu candidates step forward
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu is throwing its support behind Ngāi Tahu whānau members standing in local body elections from Invercargill to Coromandel.
Kaiwhakahaere Lisa Tumahai says the iwi knows of at least 15 Ngāi Tahu candidates in various election categories across New Zealand.
She says while not endorsing candidates, they are helping them share information through the tribe's website.
Four of the whānau are standing for mayor – Carmen Houlahan in Dunedin, Darlene Morgan in Kaikoura, Tina Nixon in Masterton and Ben Parsons in Thames-Coromandel.
Ms Tumahai says Ngāi Tahu needs greater representation at all levels of government, to ensure its rights and interests are protected and advocated for, now more than ever with pressing issues like climate change, freshwater and regional development.
Ms Tumahai stressed the importance of getting out and voting in the elections.
Polling for the elections closes on Saturday.
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