October 14, 2019
Tamihere eyes next run
John Tamihere’s bid for the Auckland mayoralty could be just the warm up for a run in next year’s general election.
That’s the hint the former MP dropped after losing by more than two votes to one to incumbent Phil Goff.
He told supporters the National and Labour parties came together to defeat him, but they had awoken a monster.
He says they should watch what happens next year with the organisation he had put together.
The election saw the defeat of the country’s only Māori mayor, with Porirua’s Mike Tana losing after a letter from the council chief executive about the use of his petrol card was leaked the week before the polls closed.
There were some notable Māori victories around the country.
In the Bay of Plenty Regional council, Toi Kai Rakau Iti won the Kohi Māori ward and Matemoana McDonald took the Mauao Māori ward.
Former Green MP David Clendon won the Bay of Islands-Whangaroa ward to join Far North District Council, and Moko Tepania won the Kaikohe-Hokianga ward.
In New Plymouth Dinnie Moeahu won a seat on council.
Tania Tapsell was the highest polling candidate on Rotorua Lakes council for the second election in a row, and Merepeka Raukawa Tait and Trevor Maxwell also retained their seats, with mayor Steve Chadwick returned.
Wellington deputy mayor Jill Day retained her seat but mayor Justin Lester was ousted by Andy Foster, who with generous funding from Sir Peter Jackson made much of his opposition to the Shelly Bay site bought by Taranaki Whānui as part of its treaty settlement.
A former Victoria university student president, Tamatha Paul from Waikato Tainui, won a seat on the council.
Tina Nixon from Ngāi Tahu missed out on the mayoral vote but won a seat on Masterton District Council.
Other candidates with Ngāi Tahu whakapapa elected around the country included Bayden Barber, James Daniels, Carmen Houlahan, Hinewai Ormsby, Hinga Whiu and Craig Pauling.
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