The Far North's newly sworn-in councillors, from left, Arohanui Allen, Ann Court, Rachel Baucke, Davina Smolders, Mayor (Kahika) Moko Tepania, Deputy Mayor (Kohepū) Chicky Rudkin, Kelly Stratford, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira, John Vujcich and Felicity Foy. Absent: Tāmati Rākena. Photo: Supplied / Nicola Griffin
Eight out of 10 of the Far North's newly elected councillors are women, one of the highest rates of female representation in New Zealand local government history.
The 10 councillors, and re-elected Mayor Moko Tepania, were sworn in today during a ceremony at Kaikohe Memorial Hall, followed by their first formal meeting in the council chambers next door.
While it's not clear whether eight out of 10 constitutes a New Zealand record, it is certainly a strong contender for the title.
Notable councils of the past include Tararua (six female councillors out of eight) and Wellington City (11 out of 14), both after the 2019 local elections.
For veteran Far North District councillor Ann Court, of Waipapa, the result made her reflect with pride on the grandfathers she had never met.
"Both fought in the war - I have their medals at home - and I think about the sacrifices they made, and other people made, so that we can live in a democratic society where women can do this. That makes me incredibly proud. I'd love the opportunity to go back in time to meet them and say, 'Did you know what kind of world you were fighting for? And, hey, you achieved it'. It's really humbling."
Court, who was starting her tenth term as an elected member, said women brought specific qualities to the council table.
"I think women are more collaborative, more likely to have a conversation and reach a consensus, rather than arriving at the table with a pre-determined position. And I do apologise to all the men in the world as I say that, because I am generalising."
New councillor Rachel Baucke, of Kaitāia, said the number of female councillors was "an amazing achievement".
"We have very talented, strong, community-based women, so it's a very exciting time for the Far North District Council."
Baucke did not think the council's gender split was the result of a deliberate choice by voters.
"They just wanted the right people for the job, they voted accordingly, and it just happened that an amazing number of women were elected," she said.
A high proportion of female councillors is not the only way Far North voters have bucked nationwide trends.
Around the country many mayors were unseated amid ratepayer revolts against rising rates, and voters in 24 out of 42 districts opted to ditch their Māori wards in mandatory referenda.
Mayor (Kahika) Moko Tepania, however, was returned for a second term with more votes than his two rivals combined, and Far North voters opted to retain their Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward with a majority of more than 2700 votes.
Tepania said the number of women elected to the council was "fantastic".
"We have a whakatauki [saying] in te ao Māori, Me aro koe ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one, or 'Take heed of the dignity of women and all the attributes they bring'," he said.
"We're going to do really awesome things over the next three years so I take my hat off to all these wicked wāhine who have made it on. They're going to keep me in check as mayor, that's for sure, but we're also going to get a lot of work done."
The Far North had never shied from female leadership, Tepania said.
Past examples included women's suffrage campaigner Meri Mangakāhia and "Mother of the Nation" Dame Whina Cooper, both of whom were influential at a national level.
Arohanui Allen, of Taheke, was one of two new Māori ward councillors sworn in on Wednesday.
She said the Far North was the place where Te Tiriti and He Whakaputanga [The Declaration of Independence] were signed, so trend-setting and leading the way were nothing new.
She believed women brought special qualities to positions of leadership.
"Women bear children, we have our different perspectives on life, those things that are womanly and motherly - but also, we get things done. I'm not saying that men don't, but mum knows how to work the house, and no doubt the women in the council will know how to work this whare as well."
Newly chosen Deputy Mayor (Kohepū) Chicky Rudkin said any number of great men could have ended up around the council table.
The outgoing male councillors - Penetaui Kleskovic, Babe Kapa and Steve McNally - were all "rangatira in their own right", with special skills and abilities.
"But like any race, there were winners and not winners. We were lucky enough to land where we landed," she said.
Rudkin acknowledged she had less experience than many at the council table, but would give the job her utmost.
She would resign as principal of Kaikohe East School to focus fully on her role as deputy mayor.
Her initial aims were to settle into the role, take some of the load off the mayor's shoulders, and make sure projects started by the previous council, such as Kaikohe's Civic Hub, were completed.
Returned councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira paid tribute to Māori and Pākehā voters alike who opted to retain the district's Māori ward.
"Obviously the general public see that we bring value and that we are working for things that are good for everybody," she said.
The Far North District Council had just four female councillors last term, half the current tally.
The district has had two female mayors, Sue James (1992-98) and Yvonne Sharpe (1998-2007).
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