Mele Tonga-Grant makes history as Hutt’s first elected Pasifika woman councillor

Lower Hutt has elected its first Pasifika woman councillor, marking a milestone for representation in the Hutt Valley.

Hutt City Council confirmed to Local Democracy Reporting that Mele Tonga-Grant is the first Pasifika woman elected to the council.

She joins Hutt City Council under the leadership of Sāmoan mayor Fauono Ken Laban, forming part of the most diverse council the city has ever seen.

“It’s been weird because I had to resign the job immediately,” she says of the days following her narrow victory. “It feels rushed but also long-awaited.”

Tonga-Grant previously worked as a council officer before winning her seat by a slim margin initially.

On election day, the progress results showed she was just one vote ahead, but the preliminary count later confirmed a clear win after once the results were confirmed.

Councillor Mele Tonga-Grant celebrates her election milestone with her mother. Photo/Mele Tonga-Grant.

Her election follows that of Tongan councillor Gabriel Tupou in the previous term and comes at a time when the council’s makeup is changing to better reflect the community it serves.

“We’ve got eight women on council, Chinese, Indian, Māori, Sāmoan, and me,” she says. “It’s the most diverse council we’ve ever had, and it reflects who our people really are.”

Lower Hutt’s new council marks a turning point for representation. With a large Pacific population, the city had only recently elected its first Tongan councillor and now its first Pasifika woman, reflecting a gradual shift toward leadership that mirrors the community.

Mayor Fauono Ken Laban officiates as Mele Tonga-Grant is sworn in as a Hutt City councillor during the official inauguration ceremony. Photo/Mele Tonga-Grant

“Being elected on as the first Pasifika woman on council is something I don’t take lightly,” Tonga-Grant says. “When people elect you into a space, it means they have trust and faith in you.”

“I’m really happy and excited for what the next three years might look like under the leadership of Fauono Ken Laban.”

“It was only last triennium that we got our first Tongan male through Gabriel, so to be able to follow in that has been awesome.”

Mele Tonga-Grant celebrating with the Pacific Connection Choir. Photo/Mele Tonga-Grant

Drawing from her background as a council officer, Tonga-Grant wants to make local government clearer and more relatable.

She says many people disengage from local politics because the language and processes can feel inaccessible, something she wants to change by making council work easier to understand.

During her campaign, she focused on plain-language explanations and one-to-one conversations with voters. “People told me they voted because the content I shared online made things easier to understand, but also because they saw me as a real person, not a politician.”

Tonga-Grant says her focus will be on connection, youth engagement, and wellbeing.

“One of my big priorities is our young people, how do we keep them in our city and get them to care about the city they come from?” she says.

She also wants to change how Pacific communities are involved in council decisions.

“Pacific communities shouldn’t just be called when it’s time for consultation. They should feel they have an open gateway to talk about things that matter to them.”

Hutt City Council’s newly elected members with Mayor Fauono Ken Laban (centre) following their swearing-in ceremony. Mele Tonga-Grant is pictured second from right.Photo/Facebook

For Tonga-Grant, this means going beyond token engagement and creating pathways for communities to shape policies that affect them.

“This is very much their win as it is mine,” she says. “I’ll keep turning up and not forget the people who elected me.”

Tonga-Grant’s message for others, especially young and Pasifika people, is to be brave and unafraid to lead.

Mele Tonga-Grant and her husband outside the Hutt City Council chambers after her official swearing-in ceremony. Photo/Mele Tonga-Grant.

“Nothing is impossible. When you persevere and are unashamedly yourself, that’s when power dynamics and ideas of leadership begin to change,” she says.

“I’m guided by my values as a Pasifika person,” she says. “At the end of the day, I’m just trying to do my best for our people.”

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