NEW FACES FOUR NEW COUNCILLORS WERE ELECTED. WHO ARE THEY?

Pippa Coom, Waitemata and Gulf

Coom is a progressive, green-leaning politician seen here, there and everywhere on her bike. She spent nine years on the Waitemata Local Board, the last three as chairwoman. Coom has been hugely influential in the development of cycleways. She supports the Vision Zero goal of stopping deaths on the roads and will be alongside Goff every step of the way on public transport and climate change. Her supporters love her. Petrol-heads don’t.

Angela Dalton, Manurewa Papakura

Dalton has been on the Manurewa Local Board since 2010, more than seven years as chairwoman. She has a business development background and is deeply connected to her community. With Daniel Newman she stood on the Manurewa-Papakura Action Team where knocking on doors seven days a week is the norm. The two councillors collapsed the Labour vote in the traditional red ward in South Auckland. Newman says he will support Dalton for Mayor of Auckland if she decides to go down that path.

Shane Henderson, Waitakere

The 32-year-old Labour councillor overcame a tough childhood that included living in a car. He was taken in by his grandmother at the age of 10 and became a lawyer. He chose community law in Henderson where after seeing young people queuing at a shop selling synthetic cannabis, he entered politics. After six years on the Henderson-Massey Local Board, three years as chairman, he was anointed by Penny Hulse to take her seat. Henderson has an infectious laugh.

Tracy Mulholland, Whau

How’s this for a story: Mulholland, the popular head of the New Lynn Business Association, gets shoulder-tapped by Labour Party heavyweights to stand for the Local Board in 2016. She obliges, wins the seat, becomes board chairwoman and has a spectacular fall out with Labour. She quits Labour in June this year and 10 days later joins the de facto National ticket, and beats Labour’s Ross Clow. Strangely, Mulholland says she has no time for politics in local government.