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Tory Whanau

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Her Worship
Tory Whanau
A head and shoulders image of Tory Whanau
37th Mayor of Wellington
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 October 2022
DeputyLaurie Foon
Preceded byAndy Foster
Parliamentary chief of staff for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
In office
2017–2021
Preceded byDeborah Morris-Travers
Succeeded byRobin Campbell
Personal details
Born1983 (age 40–41)
Porirua, New Zealand
Political partyGreen
Alma mater

Tory Awatere Whanau[1] (born 1983) is a New Zealand politician. She was elected mayor of Wellington at the 2022 election.[2] Previously she served as the parliamentary chief of staff for the Green Party.

Whanau is the first person of Māori descent to be mayor of Wellington.[3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Whanau has ancestors from Pakakohi and Ngāruahine.[4][5] She was born in Porirua in 1983[6] and grew up in Cannons Creek, Porirua. Whanau moved with her family to Patea at the age of 8,[7] later attending New Plymouth Girls' High School. Whanau moved to Wellington as an adult to study, and in 2003 won $1.39 million in a Lotto draw, which she used to pay off her parents' mortgage, support her family, and travel.[4][8]

Whanau graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in media studies from Victoria University of Wellington in 2006[1][9] and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business and Administration in Communication Management from Massey University in 2012.[10]

Career

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After graduating from Victoria University of Wellington, Whanau worked for the New Zealand Film Commission as a business affairs and short film assistant.[11] Her career was mainly in marketing and digital communications, with roles with financial services firms such as Axa, TWUSUPER, and Cigna, as well as the New Zealand charity Plunket.[7][9]

Whanau entered politics in 2015 when she worked for the parliamentary wing of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.[12] During the 2017 general election, she was the party's digital director and became acting chief of staff when Deborah Morris-Travers resigned in August 2017.[13] After the 2017 and 2020 elections, Whanau was a member of the Green Party's team in the negotiations that led to the formations of the resulting government.[14][15] Whanau resigned as chief of staff in August 2021, intending to form a public relations consultancy firm with Matthew Tukaki, Deborah Mahuta-Coyle and Nevada Halbert,[16][17] but instead joined the firm Capital Government Relations.[18]

Mayor of Wellington

[edit]

Whanau announced her intention on 18 November 2021 to run for the Wellington mayoralty in the 2022 election,[7] and formally launched her campaign on 30 June 2022.[5] She ran as an independent, endorsed by the Green party.[19] She gained the mayoralty with 34,462 votes after the distribution of preferences, more than twice those gained by the incumbent Andy Foster.[20][21]

Whanau's stated policy platform was "Fixing our pipes; More warm, dry homes for all; More efficient public transport options; Mental health support, alcohol and harm reduction; Safer streets; Arts and culture revitalisation; Business support; Climate action."[22] She was seen as one of the few progressive candidates to gain mayoral office in the 2022 local elections, with most New Zealand territorial authorities swinging to conservative candidates.[23]

Following the 2022 Wellington local elections, Whanau reduced the number of full council committees on the Wellington City Council from five to three. Following a month of negotiations and restructuring, she appointed several Labour and Green councillors as chairs of these three council committees (Rebecca Matthews, Teri O'Neill and Tamatha Paul).[24] Whanau did not renew her Green membership when it came up for renewal in November 2022.[25] Georgina Campbell from The New Zealand Herald wrote that this was in order to build better relationships with independent councillors without a formal party membership.[26] Whanau later reversed this decision and rejoined the Green Party in 2024.[27]

In November 2023, Whanau reversed her previous opposition to the Wellington City Council selling its 34 percent stake in Wellington Airport to cover the Council's financial deficit. On 9 November, Whanau and a majority of councillors voted to consult the public about the plan. In addition, Whanau and her fellow councillors voted unanimously to scrap $230 million worth of repairs to Te Ngākau Civic Square and the City to Sea Bridge, and to scrap about $35 million worth of funding for cycleways and footpaths.[28]

In mid-March 2024, Whanau supported a plan to permit for more housing construction in Wellington by upzoning vast areas of the city. She said this would make housing more affordable and lower emissions.[29]

In April 2024, the Wellington City Council cancelled a NZ$32 million agreement with cinema chain Reading Cinemas to refurbish and earthquake-strengthen its Wellington building, which has been closed since 2019. In 2023, Whanau and the Wellington City Council had approved efforts by Council staff to negotiate the NZ$32 million agreement to refurbish and earthquake-strengthen the Wellington cinema. Whanau described the outcome as "disappointing, but the right one."[30]

In late May 2024, the Wellington City Council voted in favour of divesting its 34% minority stake (worth NZ$278 million) in Wellington Airport, with the proceeds going towards a major disaster investment fund. In response, Whanau said that divestment had not been her preference but that we "had to put political alliances aside and decided what is best for the city."[31]

On 10 October 2024, councillors voted nine to seven against the sale.[32] Whanau expressed disappointment with the outcome but said she respected her fellow councillors' decision.[33] On 17 October, Whanau met with Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and said that the New Zealand Government was not considering intervening in the Wellington City Council despite criticism of the Council's financial management by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.[34]

On 22 October, the New Zealand Government appointed a Crown observer to Wellington City Council after the Council was forced to revise its 2023–2024 Long Term Plan in response to a failed attempt to sell its airport shares.[35] In response, Whanau said that she would discuss the draft terms of reference with councillors and that the Council would cooperate with the Government.[36] Whanau later criticised several government ministers for using emotive language in criticising the council's governance and financial management, saying "we need assistance, not punching down." In response, ACT leader David Seymour said the Government was criticising the Council's "poor decisions" rather than its people while New Zealand First leader Winston Peters accused Whanau of being blind to the city's problems. Finance Minister Willis said that the Government was listening to Wellingtonians' frustration and dissatisfaciton with the Council.[37]

Personal life

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Whanau has struggled with alcoholism. Two incidents related to her alcohol consumption received media attention during her mayoralty. On 30 June 2023, a Friday evening, Whanau appeared to employees to be intoxicated upon entry[38] to The Old Quarter restaurant in Dixon Street. Restaurant staff refused to serve her due to her intoxicated state, and she left without paying her bill. Whanau admitted not paying her bill and being "tipsy" but denied that she had acted confrontationally towards staff members, including asking if they knew who she was. The bill was paid the next day, on 1 July.[39] On 18 November 2023, Whanau was seen intoxicated at Wellington’s Havana Bar. Almost two weeks later, she released a written statement which admitted a drinking problem and that she was seeking professional help.[40]

In April 2024, Whanau was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and "significant traits of autism".[41]

In September 2024, Whanau said on radio that she had sold her car "to help pay the bills", despite her mayoral salary of $189,799.[42] A few days later she denied that was the reason, and said she sold her car to walk to work. A spokesperson later clarified that she sold her car to help with her mortgage.[43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Roll of graduates". Victoria University of Wellington. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ Fallon, Virginia. "Tory Whanau takes Wellington mayoralty from Andy Foster". Stuff. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  3. ^ Manhire, Toby (1 September 2022). "'Who dictated what a mayor has to look like?' The Tory Whanau pitch to Wellington". The Spinoff. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b Johnstone, Tessa. "A run for office". Capital. No. 82. p. 37–42. ISSN 2324-4836. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b Hunt, Tom (30 June 2022). "Wellington mayoral candidate's bold plan to pedestrianise Cuba St". The Dominion Post. Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ^ "My Story". Tory Whanau. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b c MacManus, Joel (18 November 2021). "Former Green Party chief of staff Tory Whanau running for Wellington mayor". The Dominion Post. Stuff. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  8. ^ Williams, Katarina (11 October 2022). "Wellington's Mayor-elect Tory Whanau undecided on deputy". The Dominion Post. Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b Whanau, Tory (19 October 2022). "Wellington.Scoop » The city of impact and change". Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Massey University graduates database search". Massey University. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  11. ^ "New Zealand Film Commission Annual Report 2006-07". yumpu.com. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Inside the spin-room: Who is who in the Government's PR team". Stuff. 13 May 2020. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  13. ^ Kirk, Stacey (22 August 2017). "Top Green Party staffers move on as turmoil hits party's backroom". Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  14. ^ Walters, Laura (26 September 2017). "Green Party announces coalition negotiating team". Stuff. Fairfax New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Ardern holds preparatory talks with Greens but coalition looking unlikely". Otago Daily Times. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  16. ^ Shaw, James; Davidson, Marama (13 July 2021). "Green Party appoints new Chief of Staff" (Press release). Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  17. ^ Moir, Jo (26 July 2021). "Māori political talent exits Parliament". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  18. ^ Edwards, Bryce (13 November 2021). "Bryce Edwards: The Government-Lobbying revolving door just keeps on turning". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  19. ^ Wong, Justin (10 April 2022). "Greens announce Wellington local body candidates, endorse Tory Whanau for mayor". The Dominion Post. Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  20. ^ "Wellington City Council – 2022 Triennial Elections" (PDF). Wellington City Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  21. ^ Daalder, Marc (8 October 2022). "Whanau bucks trend in referendum on leadership". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Tory Whanau". Wellington City Council. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  23. ^ "'A shift in political thinking': many of New Zealand's cities lurch right in local elections". the Guardian. 10 October 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  24. ^ Gourley, Erin (8 November 2022). "Labour, Green councillors to lead key committees on new Wellington City Council". Stuff. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Wellington mayor set to drop Green Party membership". Morning Report. Radio New Zealand. 16 November 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  26. ^ *Campbell, Georgina (16 November 2022). "New mayor loosens ties to Green Party". The New Zealand Herald. p. A12. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023 – via pressreader.com. Wellington mayor Tory Whanau, whose independent campaign was endorsed by the Greens, has decided she will not renew her party membership, the Herald understands. The key reason behind the move is so she can....
  27. ^ Manera, Ethan (16 April 2024). "Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau rejoins Green Party after previously deciding not to renew membership". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Public will get say on Wellington council selling airport shares". Radio New Zealand. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  29. ^ James, Nick (14 March 2024). "Wellington City Council votes to increase housing density". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Reading Cinema: Wellington council ends negotiation on deal to reopen complex". Radio New Zealand. 23 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  31. ^ "Wellington set to have NZ's first major privately owned airport". 1News. 31 May 2024. Archived from the original on 31 May 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  32. ^ Tom Hunt and Harriette Laughton (10 October 2024). "Wellington council votes against sale of Wellington Airport stake". Stuff. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  33. ^ Campbell, Georgina (10 October 2024). "Wellington City Council votes to stop controversial airport shares sale". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 10 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  34. ^ Gibbens, Krystal; Argue, Mary (17 October 2024). "Ministers still mulling Wellington council intervention despite meeting with Tory Whanau". RNZ. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  35. ^ Smith, Sam (22 October 2024). "Government to appoint Crown observer to Wellington City Council". Stuff. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Mayoral statement on Crown Observer". Wellington City Council. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  37. ^ McCulloch, Craig (23 October 2024). "Ministers defend criticisms of Wellington City Council: 'It's about a series of poor decisions'". RNZ. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Wellington restaurant unfazed by backlash after mayor's tipsy evening out". The New Zealand Herald. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Wellington mayor Tory Whanau left restaurant without paying: "It was an honest mistake"". Radio New Zealand. 3 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  40. ^ Campbell, Georgina (29 November 2023). "Wellington mayor admits alcohol problem: 'I am a flawed person'". NZ Herald.
  41. ^ "Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau reveals ADHD diagnosis with 'significant traits of autism'". RNZ. 7 June 2024.
  42. ^ "Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau sells car to help pay the bills". NZ Herald. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  43. ^ Hu, Justin (22 September 2024). "Wellington Mayor clarifies after appearing to backtrack on car sale claim". TVNZ. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Wellington
2022–present 		Incumbent
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