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The local body elections proved a success and a disappointment for Pasifika candidates around the Motu as provisional results have revealed.
In the city of sails Labour-endorsed candidate, Fa’anana Efeso Collins lost his bid for the mayoralty to Wayne Brown, with provisional; results putting Brown 54,000 votes ahead.
Magnanimous in defeat, Fa’anana held a pess conference on Saturday, thanking his supporters, and essentially calling time on his political career. With a campaign that appealed to younger voters, he admitted he may not have got things right.
“We may not have got every strategic decision right during this campaign, but we’ve shown that you can still create a movement which inspired a generation of young people when you’re prepared to put their concerns ast the centre of teh campaign,” he says.
A two term, councillor on the Super City, Fa’anana’s position as a Manukau Ward councillor went to Otara community stalwart, Lotu Fuli who joins successful candidate Alf Filipaina, who returns to council.
Also, winning her bid for a return to the Auckland council was Josephine Bartley who won a close-fought battle with her nearest rival in the Maungakiekie-Tamaki ward.
However, not so good news for Former All Black and council candidate Kevien Mealamu. He was standing for council in the Franklin Ward but missed out by nearly 5000 votes.
In terms of council positions elsewhere in the country, Josiah Teokotai was successful in his bid for one of six positions for the Tokoroa ward on the South Waikato District Council.
In Porirua, Izzy Ford returns to the Porirua City Council for the Onepoto general ward while Former Wainuiomata local board chair Gabriel Tupou has won a seat on the Hutt City Council.
In the South, Dunedin City Councillor Marie Laufiso is returning to council while in Oamaru, Hana Halalele has secured a second term as councillor for the Oamaru ward of the Waitaki District council.
For local board positions, a plethora of new and familiar Pasifika faces have returned across Auckland city.
Returning for the Mangere-Otahuhu local board are Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich, Walter Togiamua, Makalita Kolo, Lafulafu Papali’itele Peo and Harry Toleafoa. And It was another big win for Otara-Papatoetoe board members Reece Apulu Autagavaia, Ofa Dewes and Swanie Nelson.
Maungakiekie-Tamaki local board candidates Maria Meredith, Chris Makoare and Nerissa Henry were all successful again and Nerissa also joins the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust.
Fasitua Amosa returns to the Whau local board while Marcus Amosa joins the Mt Wellington Licensing Trust. Andrew Lesa joins the Wiri Licensing Trust and also secures a position on the local board for the Manurewa ward.
Dr. Janet Tupou who stood under the Shore Action banner was one of eight successful candidates running for the Kaipatiki local board. Actor/Director Oscar Kightley also joins the ranks winning a seat on the Henderson-Massey local board.
Also new to local government in Auckland is Vi Hausia who ran for the local board in Papatoetoe and Jo Glassie – Rasmussen who ran successfully for the Mangere-Otahuhu local board.
Standing as an independent for the Petone community board in the Hutt City in Wellington is Semi Kuresa who secured one of the six positions.
Voting closed at midday Saturday 8th October with final results expected to be announced later next week.
According to reports, voter turnout was low across the country. In Auckland, voter turnout was 29.4% as of 5pm Friday 7th October. This is in comparison to 31.5% in the 2019 election.
