Ngāpuhi chairman Sonny Tau re-elected to the role

Rāniera (Sonny) Tau has been re-elected chairman of Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi. Photo / File

Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi chairman Rāniera Tau has been re-elected to the role after a challenge from Clinton Dearlove.

A postal ballot to represent the Hauāuru Takiwā (the district covering Kaikohe and Otaua) on the 10-seat Te Rūnanga-A-Iwi o Ngāpuhi board closed on Monday last week, with the last votes due to be cast in person at the takiwā's AGM at Kohewhata Marae on the following Tuesday evening.

In a statement yesterday, the rūnanga said Tau was declared the Hauāuru Takiwā Trustee elect to the rūnanga. After the votes were counted Tau had won by a 169-majority over Dearlove.

The election result returns Tau to the rūnanga for another term. His win came amid a wave of high voter turnout.

Lorraine Toki, Ngapuhi CEO, said: "This vote attracted one of the highest voting returns ever seen in takiwā elections and demonstrates the level of interest Ngāpuhi are taking in these matters.''

The voting result will be officially ratified at this year's rūnanga AGM.

Tau acknowledged Dearlove's election campaign and the Hauāuru Takiwā.

"I want to say thank you to my takiwā for their continued confidence in me," Tau said in a statement.

"I ran a positive campaign and I am proud that our takiwā responded the way they did. I have never taken my position for granted, and I look forward to continuing to work hard for Ngāpuhi."

Tau has been unopposed as the Hauāruru trustee for many years.

Toki said Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi O Ngāpuhi holds statutory responsibilities representing Ngāpuhi under the Maori Fisheries Act 2004, the Maori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004 and the Resource Management Act 1991.

As the mandated iwi authority for Ngāpuhi, it leads the spiritual, social, cultural, environmental, and economic growth for all Ngāpuhi and builds enduring relationships and creates opportunities to help realise Ngāpuhi's collective interests, dreams and aspirations.