Latest news with #Labour-endorsed
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
OUSA rep running for council criticised
A Labour candidate for the Dunedin City Council has become the target of a campaign calling for him to stand down as a student representative. Jett Groshinski's decision to run as a Labour-endorsed candidate at this year's local body elections has caused tension within the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) executive, where he is the political representative. He has been allowed to continue his role in a reduced capacity, and OUSA president Liam White was confident any conflict of interest could be avoided. However, since then, fellow student Fergus Parks has posted flyers across the university campus calling for Mr Groshinski to step down from his representative role. Mr Parks said his posters were filling a communication gap left by OUSA. He was supportive of Mr Groshinski standing as a candidate, but the problem was he was doing it "at the same time while he's on the executive''. "The perception of the students is, 'oh, he's just been using this role as a means to support his campaign'" The biggest problem was it had been "effectively radio silence'' from OUSA on the matter, Mr Parks said. "There's been no official posts, no official notices from the president and everything which has so far happened has only been facilitated by the student newspaper [Critic Te Ārohi], which is independent of the OUSA. "The lack of clarity leading up to here just doesn't fill you with hope about how they're going to handle it" He was also concerned Mr Groshinski would continue to receive a full wage for reduced duties while other executive members took on more work. Mr Groshinski said the executive had agreed to a "conflict of interest plan'' to keep his two roles separate. He could comment on election matters as a candidate, but referred any requests for OUSA comment on to Mr White. Mr White said the OUSA executive had held thorough discussions on the matter and there was a "diversity of opinion amongst the executives''. "Some people thought that he should resign outright, that it wasn't a conflict that we could manage, and some of the executives disagreed with that. "But eventually we went with Jett not being involved in media. "He will not be involved in the OUSA local body election process ... and he's going to come off as chair of the political action committee" Mr White said he was confident Mr Groshinski and the OUSA were managing the situation, although he did say resignation was not out of the question if there was a serious breach of trust. There had been some frustration about others picking up parts of Mr Groshinski's role, but there was also an understanding "that just [had] to happen''. Asked about Mr Park's concerns on communication, Mr White said exams meant it was an exhausting time of year and he trusted Critic to give a fair representation of the situation. In a personal capacity, he did not want to drive more attention to the matter and would rather Mr Groshinski be seen as a student running for council, instead of standing as an OUSA executive member. OUSA was unlikely to endorse a candidate for the election and would instead focus on educating students about the candidates, he said. In 2022, Mr Groshinski unsuccessfully ran for Dunedin mayor and council.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Nine city councillors confirm intention to seek re-election
Photo: ODT files Most Dunedin city councillors are hoping to return to the fray come October. Nine of the 15 Dunedin City Council members have said they will stand for re-election in this year's local government elections. Deputy mayor Cherry Lucas said she would stand as an independent candidate after first being elected to council in 2022. "I believe that this first term is like an apprenticeship," she said. "Even though I had previously worked for DCC many years ago, it takes a long time to get over [or] fully come up to speed on so many diverse areas. "I've invested a lot in council as it has in me and I think I owe it to the city to put my hand up again." For the moment, she said her focus was on the council's long-term-plan process. Cr Andrew Whiley also said he would run for council again as an independent candidate and thought it would be an "interesting and challenging election period". "I am deeply concerned about the level of toxicity already coming through on social media," he said. Cr Steve Walker said he planned to stand for council again and, "despite being constantly asked", would not contest the mayoralty. He and his fellow candidate, University of Otago student Jett Groshinski, had been endorsed by the Labour Party. "Running as a Labour-endorsed candidate gives the voting public a clear, unambiguous understanding of the values I bring to the table, rather than hiding those values under the opaque mask of 'independence'," Cr Walker said. Crs Christine Garey and Bill Acklin both said they would be running for council as independents. As well as standing for council, Crs Mandy Mayhem and Lee Vandervis said they would have a tilt at the mayoralty, as will incumbent mayor Jules Radich. Though widely expected to join the mayoral race, Cr Sophie Barker said she would not make a decision until the long-term-plan process was complete. In January, Cr Carmen Houlahan said she would run for council as an independent. Nominations open on July 4 and close August 1. The election will be held on October 11.
Otago Daily Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Labour endorsing candidates in DCC election
Incumbent Dunedin city councillor Steve Walker (right) and hopeful Jett Groshinski, pictured yesterday in George St, have been given Labour Party endorsement for the coming October local body elections for the Dunedin City Council. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Labour has announced it is endorsing two candidates for the Dunedin City Council at this year's election. They are incumbent councillor Steve Walker and Jett Groshinski, who at present holds the post of political representative at the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA). A statement from the Labour Party yesterday said that there had been a "a robust and considered selection process". Cr Walker, who was first elected to the council in 2019, had served two successful terms as a Labour-endorsed councillor, the statement said. Mr Groshinski, a former mayoral and council candidate in the 2022 elections, was actively involved in community advocacy, with a focus on student wellbeing, accessible public transport and creating inclusive civic spaces, the statement said. "Southern Labour is confident that both candidates bring the experience, passion and progressive values needed to represent the diverse voices of Dunedin and build a fairer, more sustainable city for all," it said. In 2022, Labour endorsed Cr Walker and Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board chairwoman Joy Davis, who was unsuccessful in her bid to join the council. — APL
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Tory Whanau: Stepping Aside From Mayoralty Is Strategic, Not A Retreat
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau says it's the right call to step aside from the mayoral race to contest the city's newly established Māori ward. Whanau cited a need for stronger Māori and Pacific representation and wanting to protect women and minorities from online abuse, while also avoiding a divisive campaign. Whanau framed her move as strategic, not a retreat, and she felt there was an urgent need to tackle online violence against minority candidates. Whanau, who made history as Wellington's first Māori mayor, says stepping down is the right decision for the city's future. 'There's some grief attached to this, right? Because I've cared very deeply about this role. But when I think about the longer term, and what's important – the kaupapa – this is the right call,' she told Pacific Mornings on 531pi. The decision marks an abrupt U-turn after Whanau earlier this month confirmed she would seek re-election [ in order to finish Wellington's ten-year plan. However, two weeks later, she announced her withdrawal – clearing the way for Labour-endorsed candidate Andrew Little to emerge as the frontrunner. Her withdrawal followed Little's confirmation that he had secured Labour's backing and intended to run a campaign with 'momentum already underway'. 'Wellington is looking for something different now, which is why I've entered the race,' Little says. "There's still four other candidates, so there is a campaign to be had and to win. I'm not letting up in terms of my effort and energy, and there's a lot of momentum underway already, so I keep going," he says. Whanau says she reflected deeply after Little's campaign launch and decided she did not want to split the progressive vote or risk a divisive battle between Labour and Green-aligned voters. 'I knew he had the support,' she says. 'So I thought, how can I better utilise my profile, my skills and my passions?' She says the move aligns with her long-term aspirations to work more directly with mana whenua and lead kaupapa Māori initiatives across council. 'I didn't want this to be a highly negative campaign between me and Andrew – Labour and the Greens – when actually we're probably going to fight for the same things,' Whanau says. 'I will clear the pathway for him to run a successful campaign. I will instead run for the Māori ward, and that really excites me.' Whanau also used her platform to call for greater protection for women and minority groups in politics, reflecting on the abuse she faced while mayor. 'We want the best people running for council – and they're not going to run if this behaviour doesn't change,' she says. 'My dream scenario is being elected to the Māori ward and working to create safer pathways for women and marginalised communities into politics.' Her departure leaves a noticeable gap in the diversity of mayoral candidates, with no women currently standing for the city's top job – a reflection, Whanau says, of the increasing hostility towards women leaders. 'It's turning people away. It's a tragedy because it impacts representation – it impacts democracy,' she says. Meanwhile, Whanau has a message for Wellington voters: 'There are some not nice characters on council. Have a look at who's running, who's got your best interests at heart – and get out and vote.' Reflecting on her three years as mayor, Whanau criticised the culture inside council. 'I want to start fighting on behalf of our people, because I think some people stand for local body for the wrong reasons – who potentially are just there to hurt others. That's not okay. That's not what democracy is about,' she says. She also points to her imbalance in media treatment during her time in office. 'It's been very imbalanced. I don't know why. It's been frustrating. To be frank, I'm looking forward to not having to deal with it again,' she says. Despite the challenges, Whanau says she remains committed to public service. 'This has been the hardest thing I've ever done. But it's certainly proved to me that no matter how hard it gets, this is the mahi that I love and that we'll continue doing.' Whanau's call for stronger Pacific representation comes as Wellington marks nearly 30 years without a Pacific councillor. The last Pacific representative was Tala Cleverley, who served on the Wellington City Council from 1979 to 1995 – becoming the first Pasifika person elected to local government in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Spinoff
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Tory Whanau drops out of mayoral race
The mayor of Wellington has announced she will not be seeking re-election at this year's local election, and will instead stand in the Māori ward. Wellington mayor Tory Whanau has announced that she will not be seeking a second term when the city heads to the polls later this year. As of today, Whanau will instead run for councillor of Te Whanganui-a-Tara, the Wellington City Council's Māori ward, with the goal of delivering 'progressive and transformational change for Wellington' while campaigning alongside her left-bloc rival Andrew Little, rather than against him. After appearing to waver late last year, in February Whanau formally confirmed that she would be seeking re-election as mayor and, earlier this month, said she would be standing as a Green Party candidate. In 2022, when she unseated the incumbent Andy Foster in a landslide victory to become the first Māori mayor of Wellington, Whanau ran as an independent but was endorsed by the Greens. Today's announcement comes the day after the mayor launched the first stage of the Golden Mile upgrade in Courtenay Place, a project Whanau said had been a 'key milestone for my mayoralty and the transformative change I campaigned on'. Now, with the project under way and Labour-endorsed candidate Little, a former minister and party leader, stepping into the race, Whanau said recent developments had 'changed the game'. Advance voting in the local elections kicks off in less than five months, opening on September 9 and closing on October 11. 'I have a lot of respect for Andrew and his leadership skills. He has support from many corners and the skills and experience to unite our council,' Whanau said in a statement to The Spinoff. 'When I had put my name forward to run for mayor again, I was worried there were no viable candidates for mayor. Now that has changed, I can now focus on what is important to me.' Whanau said the 'progressive goals' she had fought for were at risk this election, and she didn't want a 'Green vs Labour narrative to distract from what's important for our city. That is not what this election should be about.' Last week, Whanau told The Spinoff she was trying to 'poach' Labour's current Onslow-Western ward councillor Rebecca Matthews to run for the Greens, after Matthews was apparently frozen out by Labour. Matthews confirmed she intended to seek the Green Party nomination. Whanau said her focus now was on 'working to get a strong group of Green candidates elected to WCC to push for progressive change'. 'I am incredibly excited about running for the Māori ward at a time when te Tiriti is under attack from central government. I want to continue making Pōneke a city that embraces te Tiriti, work closely with mana whenua and deliver on affordable housing, nature and water.' The current Māori ward councillor is the Greens' Nīkau Wi Neera, who was voted in when the ward was established in 2022, and who will not be seeking re-election. Wi Neera was a central figure in reversing the decision to sell the council's shares in Wellington airport, and late last year told The Spinoff, 'I think there are lots of people at the party who want to kick me out.' Whanau thanked Wi Neera for his 'tireless mahi on advancing kaupapa Māori for Wellington City Council', while Wi Neera told The Spinoff, 'Tory has great relationships with our mana whenua, and will continue the transformational process she has begun as mayor. I expect she and Andrew will make a fantastic team.' Wellington City Council voted to retain its Māori ward in September last year, but constituents will get the final say in a binding poll being held as part of this year's local election, a controversial requirement mandated by legislation passed by the coalition government. The change will come into effect from 2028, meaning no matter the result of the poll, Wellington's next Māori ward councillor is safe for at least a term. Whanau has said she is confident Wellingtonians will vote to retain the ward. Whanau's mayoralty has been marred by a number of personal controversies, as well as in-fighting within the council and with central government. The projects that are likely to define her term are yet to be fully realised, such as the Golden Mile upgrade and the District Plan, while her championing of cycleways has provided more immediate changes to the city (though are a thorn in the side for some ratepayers). Whanau said her mayoralty had been shaped by 'bold decisions that will make our city a better place for generations to come'. She said she was most proud of directing 30% of the council's budget ($1.8bn) towards water, passing the District Plan, constructing new cycleways and bus lanes, the planting of 223,000 trees across the city, boosting funding to address city safety and the homeless and further funding for the City Mission to open Wellington's first wet house, Te Pā Maru. Other projects she highlighted are still to be completed, such as the reopening of the Moa Point waste plant, the Central Library and Te Ngakau Civic Square, all scheduled to be completed in early to mid 2026. Whanau also cited the opening of the Town Hall, set for 2027, and the regeneration of Courtenay Place, to be completed in 2028. As of today, the mayoral contest is between Little, councillor Ray Chung, businessman Karl Tiefenbacher, conservationist Kelvin Hastie, former city councillor Rob Goulden and former owner of Wellington LIVE Graham Bloxham, but candidate nominations don't close until August. In the race to be the Māori ward councillor, Whanau will come up against the Labour-backed Matthew Reweti, who ran for the same position in the 2022 elections and lost by 65 votes. 'Change isn't easy and will always have its critics,' Whanau said. 'But I have stayed true to the vision I was elected to deliver and always been upfront about the challenges we face.' Our Wellington coverage is powered by the generous support of our members and Welly 500 donors. If you value our spotlight on the city's future and want to help sustain our coverage – tautoko mai, donate today.
