Kerrin Leoni is a New Zealand politician who is an Auckland Councillor. In 2022, Leoni was elected as the Whau ward councillor.
Kerrin Leoni | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Whau ward Councillor | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Tracy Mulholland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1979 or 1980 (age 44–45) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
Early life
editLeoni is of Māori (Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāi Takoto, and Ngāti Kurī) and European (Italian and Irish) descent.[1] Leoni has a master's degree, completed in 2007, from Auckland University of Technology. Her thesis was on young Māori children leaving foster care in New Zealand.[2] Leoni spent 10 years of her life living in London, where she ran a contracting business and was a member of the cultural group Ngāti Rānana.[3][4] She returned to New Zealand in the mid-2010s.[3]
Political career
edit| Years | Ward | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–present | Whau | Labour | |
Leoni was elected to the Waitematā Local Board in 2019 on the City Vision ticket. She served as deputy chair for the first half of the term.[5] On 23 February 2020, Leoni was selected as Labour's candidate for the Waikato electorate for the 2020 election,[6] officially launching her campaign in August.[3] Despite a strong pro-Labour swing, Leoni lost to the incumbent National MP Tim van de Molen.[7] Her list placement of 66th was not high enough to enter parliament.
In the 2022 local body elections, Leoni was elected as a councillor for the Whau ward, after narrowly winning the election from the incumbent councillor Tracy Mulholland. Leoni is the first female Māori councillor to be elected to the Auckland Council.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ "Kerrin Leoni - Candidate for Waikato - NZ Labour Party". New Zealand Labour Party. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Leoni, Kerrin (2007). Ka tipu mai nga taiohi Māori: a study of taiohi Māori leaving care in New Zealand (Masters thesis). Tuwhera Open Access, Auckland University of Technology. hdl:10292/9708.
- ^ a b c Gullery, Lawrence (2 August 2020). "First-time candidate Kerrin Leoni launches Labour's bid for the Waikato electorate". Stuff. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ Walters, Laura (10 August 2021). "Team of 6 million: How NZ can harness the power of Kiwis living overseas". The Spinoff. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Halfway point brings change of Deputy Chair for Waitematā Local Board". Auckland Council. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Labour Selects Candidate For Seat That Helen Clark And Jacinda Ardern First Stood In". Scoop. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Official Count Results — Waikato". New Zealand Electoral Commission.
- ^ "Local elections 2022 – Official results" (PDF). Local elections 2022 – Official results. Auckland Council. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
- ^ "Auckland's first wāhine Māori councillor wants mana whenua to have more say". Radio New Zealand. 18 October 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.