Māngere-Ōtāhuhu's future leadership revealed for 2027

Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board locked in its future leadership this week, confirming Te’o Harry Fatu Toleafoa will step into the chair role in 2027 under its shared leadership agreement.

Current Chair Kaea Walter Inoke-Togiamua and Deputy Chair Christine O’Brien will remain in their roles until 26 April 2027.

Te’o will then lead the board through the second half of the term, alongside Joe Glassie-Rasmussen as deputy chair.

The board confirmed the leadership change while facing a $1 million shortfall amid wider council cost pressures.

Te’o used the board’s first business meeting of the year to reflect on his time on the board.

“For two terms, ever since I’ve started this role, there has been nothing but emergencies.

Kaea Walter Inoke-Togiamua, current Chair of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board, with Te’o Harry Fatu Toleafoa, who will lead the second half of the 2025–2028 term. Photo/PMN News/Taelegalolo'u Mary Afemata

"We had COVID, which led to $800 million in cuts, we had the floods, which we had to sustain, and now our local board is facing the challenge of plugging a $1 million shortfall."

The community is doing it tough, he said.

“There’s challenges left, right and centre, and people say that we live in problem areas.

"I just want to say, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu is not a problem to be solved, but a potential to be realised.”

Local board funding is determined through Auckland Council’s budget formula, based on factors including population and deprivation. Boards must then prioritise spending within those limits.

Members of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board for the 2025–2028 term. Photo/Auckland Council

“We don't get our fair share of the slice of the pie. We're often left out of discussions. It's a real charge for us to act justly.”

In an emotional moment with family present, Te’o formally delivered his declaration yesterday, promising to perform the role in the best interests of Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board.

Although the board was inaugurated in 2025, Te’o said he was unable to publicly mark that milestone with his family due to the death of his nana.

He said the support shown by colleagues during that period “demonstrated the love and care that makes me proud to serve this local board”.

“I was taught by our councillor, Lotu Fuli. She was my English teacher back in the day, and it’s quite humbling that we’re able to sit together and work for the betterment of the community.”

Te’o Harry Fatu Toleafoa with family after being sworn in and declaring his new role as Chair of the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board for the second half of the term. Photo/PMN News/Taelegalolo'u Mary Afemata

Te’o acknowledged Hau Kainga and mana whenua, including Te Ākitai Waiohua, Te Ahiwaru and the Wilson whānau, alongside the broader auspices of Tainui and the Māori queen, before turning to those closest to him.

“Politics starts at home. And from a young age, I was rich in that experience. I witnessed how a family was run… I witnessed how the welfare, how to balance books. It was all these things that I was able to witness and be privy to.”

He paid tribute to his parents, mentors and extended family, and “most importantly” his wife, who he described as an integral support.

Their son was also present.

“Our greatest hope and desire is that we do our work, we lay down the foundations for future generations, so when this guy… comes through, we leave this community in a better place.”

He described council staff work as “a thankless job”, acknowledging the long hours and emergency calls that support elected members.

Drawing on Micah 6:8, he said his leadership would be guided by three principles: “to act justly… to love mercy… and to walk humbly before the Lord.”

Councillor Lotu Fuli, who once taught Te’o, congratulated him.

“Even then, I saw in Harry the leadership potential… we’ve sort of come full circle now.”

She also acknowledged the late Fa’anana Efeso Collins, “our good friend and brother” and “a very good mentor for Te’o and for many of us around the table.”

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