A mayor for everyone

The Far North's first Māori mayor is one of an emerging political generation bringing equity to the forefront. But a government reversal on Māori wards looms as a stumbling block.

- PAUL LITTLE

Photogenic, charismatic, energetic, Moko Tepania ticks all the boxes Zealand leader of the future. And as the first Māori and youngest-ever Mayor of the Far North, Tepania, 33, is well on the way. Although, he says, "I think it's sad I'm the first Māori mayor for the Far North, with a majority Māori population." Moko the mayor, as he is most commonly known, was also, to his astonishment, named one of five winners in the 2023 One Young World Politician of the Year Award, which recognises politicians aged 18-35 who "are using their positions to have a positive impact on young people in their communities and countries".

"He exudes confidence," says Haami Piripi, former chair of Tepania's iwi, Te Rarawa, "because his old people have confidence in him. He is the prototype of what they would have expected of the next generation."

In 2019, Tepania was elected to the Far North District Council - a traditionally Pākehā-dominated body, despite the district's near-50% Māori population representing the Kaikohe-Hokianga ward. He put his hand up the night before nominations closed and got in by 13 votes. Since then, he's been driven by the need to "uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and ensure that we allow Māori a Māori voice in our decision-making".

One means to that end was the introduction of Māori ward councillors, a concept now under threat from the coalition government. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced that councils that introduced Māori wards without a referendum will need to hold one in the 2025 elections or scrap them.

"It's hypocritical from this National-led government, who stood candidates in the Māori electorate seats in last year's general election," says Tepania, who has shown himself a formidable force for change.