Pasifika councillors share their ambitions for Tāmaki Makaurau

Auckland’s four Pasifika councillors say the country needs to rethink local elections after "really concerning" voter turnout.

The councillors will be inaugurated tonight [Friday] at Auckland Town Hall alongside the mayor and other elected members.

Three incumbents, Alf Filipaina, Lotu Fuli and Josephine Bartley, have been returned by their communities.

They are joined by first-time councillor Victoria Short, the first person of Kiribati descent to serve on Auckland Council.

Manukau Ward councillor Lotu Fuili says voter turnout across South Auckland remains “really concerning.”

“We’ll be lucky to hit 20 or 25 per cent in Ōtara,” she said. “It’s time Parliament changed the voting system. The postal vote is outdated; nobody uses the post except for Temu.”

Lotu Fuli says South Auckland’s voter turnout remains “really concerning” and is calling for Parliament to modernise the local election system. Photo/file.

Just 29 percent of eligible voters had their say across Auckland - the lowest turnout of all councils.

“I’m tired because it was a long, difficult campaign, but I’m feeling honoured and blessed that the people of Manukau have put their confidence in myself and in Alf again,” she says.

“People trust us and they know us. They’ve seen us on the ground during Covid and the floods, punching and advocating for them from day one.”

Her focus this term includes climate resilience, equitable funding for local boards, and keeping public facilities affordable.

“When it rains, people in Māngere and Ōtara still get nervous. We need to keep investing in flood mitigation and make sure our local boards are funded in a fair, sustainable way.”

Alf Filipaina, also a councillor for the Manukau Ward, says he feels humbled to return but disappointed by the tone of the campaign.

“I’m humbled to serve again,” he says. “It was the first election I’ve seen with a smear campaign through social media and press releases. People were putting out misinformation, but despite that the community still put us in the lead.”

Filipaina says many residents don’t realise Manukau Ward councillors make regional decisions.

“Not too many in our community know that we’re regional councillors, even though we were elected from Manukau,” he says.

“We make regional decisions, but we’ll never forget where we’re from, the Southside.”

Alf Filipaina says he feels humbled to return for another term. Photo/file

Local Democracy Reporting asked Filipaina what can be done to bridge the gap between local and central government, given the low voter turnout.

“What I want to do is what we used to do in Manukau City, which is go into high schools and talk to students about what council does – rubbish, stormwater, housing, climate.

"That’s how you bridge that gap so our young people take that learning home.”

Josephine Bartley, Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Ward councillor, says she is “very grateful” to have been returned for another term.

“People voted me back in because they trust me to serve them for another three years,” she says.

Josephine Bartley says she is grateful to be re-elected and wants communities to stay informed as the area undergoes rapid growth. Photo/file

Her priority is ensuring residents can keep pace with the rapid growth reshaping the area.

“Our communities are undergoing massive change. I want them to be informed and part of it, not left wondering what’s going on.”

Bartley said campaigning while still working as a councillor was challenging.“You never stop campaigning. Meetings run into the night, so it’s hard to door-knock afterwards.”

She welcomed the rise in Pacific representation.

“It’s always good because we bring different perspectives. You want the population council serves to be reflected in its decision-makers.”

Albany Ward Councillor Victoria Short joins the governing body as the first person of Kiribati descent elected to Auckland Council. Photo/Victoria Short

Victoria Short, Albany ward's new councillor, says her election signals a turning point for the North Shore.

“I’m still in shock, but deeply humbled.

“So many people came out to support and put their faith in me.”

Short believes voters wanted renewal after decades of continuity.

“These results show people are ready for a fresh perspective and a different way of doing things.”

She plans to bring fiscal discipline and community priorities to the table, focusing on transport, water and core infrastructure.

Auckland City, where four Pasifika councillors will serve on the governing body for the 2025–2028 term. Photo/file

“I love numbers. I want to foster real financial responsibility, push for better infrastructure, and bring local-board priorities into the governing-body space.”

Fluent in Kiribati, she says her heritage shapes how she connects with people.

Short also wants to modernise how Aucklanders engage with local government.

“Postal voting doesn’t work,” she says. “We need civics education in schools so young people actually know what local government does.”

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.