One Eastern Bay mayor, one regional councillor, one district councillor and 10 community board members have won their seats without even having to run a campaign.
Toni Boynton, now adorned with moko kauae, will still be appearing on billboards despite no one standing in opposition to her. Photo: Supplied via LDR
Faylene Tunui, who has served two terms as a Kawerau district councillor and is currently deputy mayor, has been elected unopposed as the new mayor of her district.
Toi Iti, who has the endorsement of the Māori Party, has been re-elected unopposed as the Kohi ward councillor for Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
Meanwhile, Whakatāne District Council has its first Māori ward councillor in Toni Boynton, who has also been elected unopposed in the Kāpū Te Rangi Māori ward.
For Boynton, her seat at the district council table is a step toward equality for Māori echoing the campaign launched by her great great grandfather, Rua Kenana, omore than 100 years ago.
Boynton has been at the forefront of campaigning for Māori wards to be instated at Whakatāne District Council.
A lot of the inspiration for that battle came from growing up surrounded by the teachings of the Tūhoe prophet and activist, from whom she is descended, she said.
"My marae is where he lies, where his house is, and I've been brought up with him and his teachings all my life. Rua Kenana is someone who is always in our lives, all the time. The first time I raised the issue of Māori wards was at his marae."
When Boynton gave a presentation at the council for Māori wards, she took a replica of her great great grandfather's flag.
"At the end I unravelled the flag, which says, 'Kotahi te ture, mo nga iwi e rua, One law for two people'. He created it as a reminder to the Crown that the law needs to apply to one people as it does to the other. Because back then there was one law for Pākehā and one law for Māori. This is all part of that journey to realise that ability for us to have that voice.
She said she felt relief and gratitude to have won her Kāpū Te Rangi Māori Ward seat unopposed.
"I'm relieved because I know how much work goes into a campaign and grateful that our Māori communities know what work I have done to be a strong enough candidate that others didn't necessarily want to stand against me. I've had a lot of people say, 'you've done the work, you deserve to have that role'.
"I've seen that with Toi [Iti], as well. People know that he's good at what he does, so they feel secure that he can do that role."
However, she said winning the election was only the beginning of her mahi.
"Now, the hard work begins. If I thought I was working before, I know I'm going to be working more now. It's still a beginning, it's not the end-all."
As someone who already keeps busy with seats on a range of committees and boards, she said she would likely need to relinquish many of these "so I can give my commitment to the role".
"I have to ensure that I can give justice to the role by making sure that I'm not too overloaded. But I'm still within arm's reach to be a supporter of other spaces that I've been working in for a long time.
"Using the platform that I now have as councillor, I can come at the issues from a different place. Things like housing, particularly Māori housing."
She said she understood there was fear in the community about Māori in positions of power.
"But we have a different view on power I guess, that the more you share, the more you have.
"I think of it in terms of mana. There is mana and then there is the word manaki, which is to care for or look after. It's the same thing, because when you look after, or manaki, others you are acknowledging the mana they have, and their actions, in turn, acknowledge the mana you have.
"It's not about taking away from anyone; it's actually enhancing everyone when you share."
She acknowledged the support and fundraising that had gone into her, now unnecessary, campaign, but also the work put in by many in the community over the past five years in the battle to establish Māori wards. Having just spent $2500 on billboards and flyers she has still put the signs up.
"I will still have some up, I am just organising somebody to do some 'elected' stickers over the word 'vote', so that anyone who might not know who I am can get to see my face."
Receiving moko kauae 'a beautiful experience'
Since Boynton first announced she was standing for the Kāpū Te Rangi Māori seat, she has received a moko kauae, a traditional Māori facial tattoo representing a woman's whānau and leadership within her community, and recognising her whakapapa, status, and abilities.
"My moko kauae was something that my dad and I had discussed about two years ago. He was supportive, as my great grandmother, the eldest daughter of Rua Kenana, Ngā Waiwhakaataata Mere Tukua, had a moko kauae.
"I went through the process of talking to my father's older sisters and my nannies to seek their endorsement, which they gave. I also went through my hapū hui at Tamakaimoana ki Tuapō where I received support. At this same hui, I received support for my standing for local elections.
"Te Wehi Preston was my Kaitā [tā moko artist], it was a beautiful day at Tuapō, where our koroua Rua Kenana rests and watches over us as his descendants. I was surrounded by my family, my close friends and hapū members. My sons sang to me, it was an amazing, beautiful experience.
"Our tupuna Netana Whakaari said of moko, 'you may lose your most valuable property through various ways. You may lose your house, your wife, your treasures. But of your moko, you cannot be deprived except by death. It will be your ornament and companion until your last day'."
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air