Seven candidates are running in the upcoming Hastings District Council Hastings-Havelock North ward byelection. Hawke's Bay Today is profiling each candidate. Today we feature Waitawhara Tupaea.
Waitawhara Tupaea is running for mayor as well as a Hastings councillor position, not so concerned about the roles as he is about changing the way council connects with and reflects the community.
A Karamu High School student who grew up in Hastings and Havelock North, the 19-year-old finished school last year and said he was driven to stand by a desire to change the thinking of the capitalist system that divided people on the basis of their work and income.
Born into a poor, working class family, he had experienced inequality in society, and said it was important for the council to treat all people with "dignity, respect and aroha.
Read more: Hastings mayoral candidate profile: Bayden Barber
Hastings mayoral candidate profile: Stuart Perry
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