// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Pita Tipene's bread say? It was in a pita-ful state.
Pita Tipene | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tipene in 2025 | |
| Chair of the Northland Regional Council | |
| Assumed office 5 November 2025 | |
| Deputy | Jack Craw |
| Preceded by | Geoff Crawford |
| Northland regional councillor for the Te Raki Māori constituency | |
| Assumed office 18 October 2025 Serving with Arama Morunga | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1960 or 1961 (age 65–66) |
| Party | Independent |
Pita Tipene KSO (born 1960 or 1961[1]) is a New Zealand politician and Māori leader. He has served as the chair of the Northland Regional Council since 5 November 2025.[2] Prior to this he had served for seven years as the chair of the Waitangi National Trust.[2][3] He was made a Companion of the King's Service Order in June 2025 for his 30 years of service to Māori.[3]
Early life
[edit]Tipene grew up in Motatau, Northland, as the ninth of eleven children.[3]
Northland Regional Council chairmanship
[edit]Following his election to the Northland Regional Council, Tipene was elected as the new chair at the inaugural council meeting. He defeated incumbent chair Geoff Crawford 5-to-3.[2]
In February 2026, Tipene called on Cabinet Ministers to stop making "derogatory" comments about local councils.[4]
Electoral history
[edit]Northland Regional Council
[edit]2025 Te Raki Māori constituency election
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Pita Tipene | 6,515 | 55.55 | (new) | |
| Te Pāti Māori | Arama Morunga | 5,297 | 45.16 | (new) | |
| Independent | Peter-Lucas Jones† | 3,882 | 33.10 | −16.78 | |
| Independent | Tui Shortland† | 3,655 | 31.16 | −37.10 | |
| Informal votes | 582 | 4.96 | +3.20 | ||
| Blank votes | 315 | 2.69 | −1.32 | ||
| Turnout | 11,729 | 43.22 | +14.58 | ||
| Registered electors | 27,140 | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent Green | |||||
| Te Pāti Māori gain from Independent | |||||
| † incumbent | |||||
References
[edit]- ↑ Jacobs, Maxine (6 February 2022). "How the good intentions of 'New Zealand Day' diminished the mana of the Treaty". Stuff.
- 1 2 3 Botting, Susan (7 November 2025). "Northland Regional Council selects Pita Tipene as new chair". Te Ao Māori News.
- 1 2 3 Botting, Susan (9 July 2025). "National Māori leader Pita Tipene stands for Northland Regional Council". The Northern Advocate.
- ↑ Smith, Anneke (26 February 2026). "Call for Ministers to stop 'derogatory' rhetoric against councils". Radio New Zealand.
- ↑ Ofsoske, Dale (17 October 2025). "Declaration of Results of Election and Poll" (PDF). Northland Regional Council.
- ↑ "Voting Document Returns" (PDF). Northland Regional Council. Retrieved 23 May 2026.