Pōwhiri ushers in ‘new dawn’ for council

p iri on Wednesday 19 October at Waitang aty Grounds officially welcomed the ne ayor, 10 councillors and 19 community boa embers elected to Far North District Counc . Speakers included Māori leaders from across the Far North who told a crowd of around 400 people they were witnessing history. Moko Tepania is the first Māori mayor of the Far North, and the youngest mayor ever elected in Northland. It is also the first time that Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward councillors have been elected to council. The four councillors – Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Tāmati Rākena, Penetaui Kleskovic and Babe Kapa – will represent the whole district. The Far North population is over 50 ent

Māori and it is the first time that a Māor ajority has been elected to Far North District uncil.

The crowd of well-wisher ere told that the election had ushered ‘ w dawn’ for the district that will unite Pākehā and Māori for the benefit of all. Speakers also urged those at the gathering to encourage communities to support their councillors.

New council confirmed

s or e District local election were recieved late Friday 14 Octobe lowing a manual count of hundreds of special votes. final tally confirmed the new mayor and council line-u . They are:

Ngā Tai o Tokerau Ward:

Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, Tāmati Rākena, Penetaui Kleskovic, Babe Kapa.

Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward:

Ann Court, Kelly Stratford, Steve McNally. Kaikohe-Hokianga Ward:

John Vujcich.

Te Hiku Ward:

Felicity Foy, Mate Radich.

The new council is due to hold its first public meeting at 10am, Thursday 27 October in chambers at the council's Kaikohe headquarters. That meeting will appoint councillor representatives to community boards, set a meeting timetable for the remainder of the year and officially appoint the Deputy Mayor.

Community boards meet

The council’s three community boards held their inaugural meetings on 20 October with each electing a chairperson and deputy chairperson.

The confirmed community board line up for the next

nnium is:

Bay of Is a - han aroa Comm ard: Belinda Ward (Chairperson), Lane Ayr (Deputy Chairperson), Roddy Hapati Pihema, Amy Slack,

Jane Hindle, Tyler Bamber, Bruce Mills. Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board:

Chicky Rudkin (Chairperson), Tanya Filia, (Deputy Chairperson), Mike Edmonds, Trinity Edwards, Harmonie Gundry, Jessie McVeagh.

Te Hiku Community Board:

Adele Gardner (Chairperson), John Stewart (Deputy Chairperson), Rachel Leigh Baucke, Sheryl Bainbridge, Darren Carl Axe, William Joseph Subritzky.

The new Far North District Council as of October 2022. It includes the newly elected mayor, councillors and community board members.

Elected members and supporters are called onto Te Whare Rūnanga.

Mayor Moko Tepania is joined by his niece Bryla during a waiata.

Moko Tepania's win as Far North Mayor made local election history.