Some have been elected for the first time locally and nationally, while a couple of koro councillors have been around almost as long as the white cloud itself. The sooner digital democracy kicks in the sooner we will get more Maori elected in Aotearoa - it's that simple. Some standing for council believed the jewel in the Bay's crown was unlocking the putea within the Port of Tauranga, more so Quayside Holdings. We can all learn from successful long standing mayors such as Tim Shadbolt and Meng Foon in Gisborne. If our new mayors can corral the collective intellectual capacity of their elected members, both young guns and wise heads - and stay connected to their communities, they have every chance of long term success, just like the Mengs, Tims and Trevors of our country.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 10, 2016 09:00 UTC