Far North Mayor Moko Tepania at the council's head office in Kaikohe. Photo / NZME
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania at the council's head office in Kaikohe. Photo / NZME
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania has confirmed he is definitely staying in the elected council’s top job and will not be standing as an MP at the coming general election.
His confirmation comes as Far North District Council (FNDC) councillor Davina Smolders continues to publicly challenge him on whetherhe is intending to stand as a central government politician at the November 7 general election.
Kerikeri Act local councillor Smolders posted on social media during Waitangi celebrations week, publicly congratulating Tepania for becoming Northland’s Labour MP – a move which has resulted in her facing council code-of-conduct proceedings.
Ruben Garcia, FNDC group manager for community and engagement, confirmed at the time Smolders’ post was false.
Smolders said there was a great deal happening in the Far North, and having the mayor 100% focused on the district was absolutely essential.
“Would the mayor do the community the courtesy of being open about his intentions for the upcoming election,” Smolders said.
In an email, Smolders said: “Residents of the Far North would reasonably like to know whether Mayor Tāpania (sic) intends to run for Government in the upcoming election”.
Tepania has clarified he will not be standing for the Labour Party or any other political party in the upcoming general election.
Neither would he be standing as an MP at the next general election in 2029.
Tepania said at his Kaikohe 2025 second term inauguration in October he wanted to pursue a Doctor of Education, further developing his work on the use of maramataka or the Māori lunar calendar in education at the end of the current council term.
He would not respond to Smolders’ Waitangi Week post or her latest comments as council code of conduct proceedings were underway.
Smolders refused to say where she got the information from that led to her post.
Far North District councillor Davina Smolders. Photo / Susan Botting
Smolders said at the time she had put up the post after several individuals told her Tepania had secured the candidacy.
“I believed that to be public information,” Smolders said.
She would not say who the individuals were.
“I have apologised, and from my perspective, that is the end of the matter.”
Her post was up for just over a day.
Smolders said she posted it on February 3 about 10pm.
