Get to know the individuals standing for election in the Whangārei District Māori Ward.
Each candidate is presented with their name, their affiliation, a personal profile statement, and a photo and short video message (if supplied).
These are provided to help you better understand who is running and what they stand for.
Candidate nominations closed at noon on Friday 1 August 2025.
Notice of day of election, poll and nominations received for the 2025 local elections(PDF, 164KB)
Click 'Next' to see the candidates.
Affiliation: N/A
Area of residence: My principal place of residence is in the Whangārei District Māori Ward area.
Candidate statement:
As a second-term member representing the Māori ward, I reiterate a strong commitment to amplifying the voices of our rural and coastal communities. Our region has seen first hand the devastation caused by extreme weather events and I am dedicated to championing local solutions to navigate our constantly changing environment.
I also advocate for our small to medium businesses - recognising them as the lifeline of our economy. I will continue working to ensure Council processes are not a barrier to growth, innovation and employment in our rohe.
This election carries extra significance and as a current Māori ward elected member, I strongly support the message 'decide together, thrive together, Keep Māori wards. It's vital we protect fair and equitable representation for all our communities.
Video coming soon.
Affiliation: N/A
Area of residence: My principal place of residence is in the Whangārei District Māori Ward area.
Candidate statement:
Hiki tapu ai nuku
Hiki tapu ai rangi
Kia mā
kia wātea te ara
Ara ki tai
Ara ki uta
Ki tua
Ki waho
Whai ao nuku
Whai ao rangi
Tohi mauri ora!
Ko Phoenix Ruka kua tau nei, hei ā ringa mo ngā hapū maha o Te Taitokerau, kua roa te wā tātou te iwi Māori whawhai ai, mo te whānau te take, me tō tātou tamariki mokopuna nōki. Kua huri te taiaha o rātou mā hei pene, hei mātauranga, kia whawhai tonu ai hei toa mō ōku iwi, ōku hapū, ōku whānau nōki.
I ngā tau e toru kua hipa e akona e au ngā nekehanga, ngā whanonga me ngā wheako o taua wāhi rā, na kua mārama ahau me pehea te kokiri ki reira hei painga mā tātou.
Na ko ahau tēnā hei pononga noa iho mo ōku whānau.
Video coming soon.
Affiliation: N/A
Area of residence: My principal place of residence is in the Whangārei District Māori Ward area.
Candidate statement:
Through whakapapa connections and professional experience across Taitokerau, I work in service of our people.
As a Chartered Accountant with local government long term strategic planning and governance experience, I can offer strategic thinking, relationship skills, and the governance experience needed to support genuine partnerships. We must ensure Council services deliver real outcomes for all communities.
I will fight for: Infrastructure that strengthens whānau connections to their tūrangawaewae, not displaces them; Climate adaptation strategies that honour mātauranga Māori; Housing developments that keep communities together, not price them out; Transparent decision-making where tangata whenua voices shape and lead projects from conception; Budget priorities that invest in people and place.
I bring both boardroom acumen and cultural understanding to the role. Effective governance requires understanding not just reports, but also the whakapapa that binds our communities together.
Every decision must serve not just today, but tomorrow.
Video coming soon.