First-term councillor Dinnie Moeahu is joining the race for the New Plymouth mayoralty - if he's successful it's believed he will be the district's first Māori mayor.
Dinnie Moeahu says if he's successful it will be a significant step for Māori in the region. Photo: Supplied
Moeahu - who has whakapapa to Te Ātiawa, Taranaki, Ngāruahine and Ngāti Porou iwi - said if he was elected he would be an inclusive leader.
"I'm already proud of who I am, my culture, my ethnicity but for me it is about my ability to work on behalf of my community and serve them well."
Moeahu, who lives in the South Taranaki District, said if he was elected it would be a significant step for Māori in the region.
"From what I can gather in the research I've done there has actually been no Māori mayor in Taranaki - period - so in terms of glass ceilings it will be a pretty big glass ceiling to break."
The 43 year old, who will be completing a Masters in Māori and Indigenous Leadership studies through the University of Canterbury alongside contesting the mayoralty, was under no illusions about the challenge he faced.
"When I said there has been no Māori mayor in the history of Taranaki - not the New Plymouth district of Taranaki - those are my odds.
"But I love my community, so I love the process and I'll respect the decision of the community."
Moeahu, who will also run for a seat on council, said he had been asked to stand for mayor by members of the community and believed he was ready for the role.
"I'm an enabler, an excellent communicator, a natural leader and have the principles of working in the community in the charitable space and even though I'm a first-term elected member I've grown in this role exponentially and I think our community is ready for that type of leadership."
Moeahu will be up against fellow councillors Murray Chong and Sam Bennett who have also declared their candidacy.
The incumbent, Neil Holdom, is expected to make an announcement on his future next month.