Women taking the lead in Tairawhiti politics

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Female representation in Gisborne local body politics far exceeds the national average, according to figures produced by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

Their research shows the 2019 local body elections (including health boards) resulted in 39 percent of all successful candidates across New Zealand being women, but in Gisborne the equivalent figure is 52.38 percent, or 11 out of 21.

That comprises six out of 13 Gisborne district councillors, including three out of four councillors representing the rural wards, four out of the seven elected board members of Hauora Tairawhiti and Gisborne's first female mayor, Rehette Stoltz.

The DIA found 36 percent of all candidates across the nation were women, a figure again exceeded by a significant degree in Gisborne with 53.48 percent.

That was made of 13 candidates out of 25 for the city ward, five out of ten in the rural wards, 11 out of 20 for the health board and two mayoralty candidates out of three.

The mayor said it was great to see strong female representation.

“We have always had a proud history of female leaders in our region.

“That's what the numbers are telling us.

“Diversity is a strength and we should strive to make sure that our demography is represented,” said Mrs Stoltz.

The DIA report said 37 percent of mayors elected last year were women while 24 percent of all mayoral candidates were women.

Gisborne's mayoralty campaign also featured Meredith Ahukata-Brown, who was re-elected to council, and Ross Meurant.

As well, all three of the region's MPs, representing the electorates of East Coast (Anne Tolley), Ikaroa-Rawhiti ( Meka Whaitiri) and list MP Kiri Allan are women.