Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward candidates

Question: Who am I?

Te Paea Paringatai: Kia ora. Ko Te Paea Paringatai tōku ingoa. He uri ahau nō Waikato me Ngāti Porou. I'm standing for Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Te Paea Paringatai: Built through leadership roles in public, tertiary and not-for-profit sectors, I bring strengths in governance, planning, strategy and systems thinking. With doctoral study and a Masters in Business Administration, I know how to navigate complexity and lead with integrity. I value equity, collaboration and transparency. And I understand how to turn great ideas into meaningful action that delivers for communities.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Te Paea Paringatai: When considering community views, I see collective wisdom as a strategic advantage. I centre lived experience, mātauranga Māori and quality data to inform decision making. I'm committed to showing up in person, online or hybrid, to listen in ways that are respectful, inclusive and relational. Decisions need to reflect who we are and who we collectively aspire to be.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Te Paea Paringatai: One key challenge is climate adaptation, how we live, move and build and balance with te taiao. This links to our sense of belonging and community, housing, health, access, education, enterprise and resilience. And our greatest opportunity lies in our collective brilliance. With strong leadership across council and communities, we're better positioned to shape a city that's future ready.

Question: Who am I?

Matthew Reweti: Kia ora, I'm Matthew Reweti and I'm standing for Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the Māori Ward. My tūpuna settled here 200 years ago at Pipitea Pā. They signed Te Tiriti here in 1840. Because of that whakapapa, I carry a duty to uphold tikanga, to protect whenua, the awa, the moana and the people, all people. Tikanga also guides me to manaaki all those who call this place home. This isn't about politics. It's about responsibility and about standing to serve the people. Toitū Te Tiriti.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Matthew Reweti: Beyond my skills in community, governance, business and management, I've lived here all my life. I've raised my tamariki here. My whakapapa runs through this city and we are Māori. Whakapapa is not a fleeting thing. It's the living thread that binds us to our tūpuna, to our mokopuna and the whenua beneath our feet. I'm standing because it's my responsibility. It's not about ambition nor ego. It's about honoring the whakapapa, ake ake.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Matthew Reweti: Wellington needs change and I'll bring positive change grounded in tikanga. You deserve better. Where others burn bridges, I build them. Wellington deserves someone who's in it for the right reasons. People deserve someone who will show up for them. I know the city's past and I want a city with a future for everyone in it.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Matthew Reweti: Where others say they'll build relationships with mana whenua, I bring those relationships with me through whakapapa and through tikanga. And I'm here to put that to work for you and your whānau.

Question: Who am I?

Tory Whanau: Tēnā koutou katoa. Ko Tory Whanau tōku ingoa. Ko Pakakohi, Ngā Ruahine, Ngāti Tākau ōku iwi. Ko au te koromatua o Pōneke. My name is Tory Whanau and I'm running for Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Tory Whanau: I'm very proud to be the current Mayor of Wellington and with that significant amount of governance, while overseeing a 12 billion dollar budget, I want to take that experience and now focus on the best outcomes for mana whenua.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Tory Whanau: I am fully committed to our Tākai Here agreement with our iwi that includes Te Āti Awa, Taranaki Whānui and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. It also ensures that we have two pouiwi at the committee table, so that they're part of decision making, and as the Māori Ward councillor I will work with them and our local Māori communities to ensure that we're delivering the best outcomes for mana whenua.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Tory Whanau: Our big opportunity and our challenge is our Long-term Plan. We have signed off a 12 billion dollar plan that invests in our water infrastructure, our public transport, our parks, community services and, of course, things like nature. I want to ensure that those things are protected. And if we protect this Long-term Plan and ensure that we're consistent over the next few years, our rates will decrease over the next 10 years. It's important that we do that for the cost-of-living crisis while also investing in our city.