Tangi Utikere

Tangi William Edward Utikere JP MP (born c. 1981) is a New Zealand politician, and Member of Parliament for Palmerston North since 2020. He was the deputy mayor of Palmerston North from 2016 to 2020, being the first non-European to serve in that role.[1][2]

Tangi Utikere

JP MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Palmerston North
Assumed office
17 October 2020
Preceded byIain Lees-Galloway
5th Deputy Mayor of Palmerston North
In office
26 October 2016 – 18 October 2020
Preceded byDuncan McCann
Succeeded byAleisha Rutherford
Personal details
Political partyLabour

Early life and professional career

Utikere was born and educated in Palmerston North and is of Cook Islands descent.[3] He worked at Freyberg High School as a history teacher, and is also a Justice of the peace and marriage celebrant.[3] On 2 June 2020, Utikere was appointed as a member of the New Zealand Criminal Cases Review Commission.[4][5]

Political career
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–present 53rd Palmerston North none Labour

Utikere unsuccessfully contested the Labour nomination for the Palmerston North electorate following the retirement of Steve Maharey in 2008, losing to Iain Lees-Galloway.[6] He was first elected to the Palmerston North City Council in 2010, and was re-elected in 2013.[7] In 2015 he unsuccessfully ran for Mayor, coming second behind Grant Smith.[8] He was re-elected to the City Council in 2016[9] and 2019.[10] In 2016 he was appointed as deputy mayor.[11]

On 26 July 2020 Utikere was selected as Labour's candidate for the Palmerston North electorate following the announcement that Iain Lees-Galloway would not be standing.[12]

During the 2020 New Zealand general election held on 17 October, Utikere won the seat, retaining it for Labour by a margin of 12,508 votes and nearly doubling Lees-Galloway's lead during the 2017 New Zealand general election.[13][14]

References
  1. "Tangi Utikere – Palmerston North Deputy Mayor". Palmerston North City Council. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  2. "Utikere becomes Palmerston North's deputy mayor". Stuff. Archived from the original on 17 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  3. "Mayoral hopeful Tangi Utikere pitches values over promises". Manawatu Standard. Stuff. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  4. "Criminal Cases Review Commission Board Appointments Announced". Scoop. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. Jimmy Ellingham (24 July 2020). "Palmerston North deputy mayor relishes new justice role". Stuff. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. "Electorate chairman joins Labour race". Manawatu Standard. Stuff. 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. "Palmerston North Preliminary Election Results". Scoop. 13 October 2013. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. "Grant Smith elected mayor of Palmerston North". Manawatu Standard. Stuff. 10 February 2015. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  9. "Palmerston North City Council elections". Scoop. 8 October 2016. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  10. "Palmerston North keeps Grant Smith as mayor". Stuff. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  11. "Utikere becomes Palmerston North's deputy mayor". Manawatu Standard. Stuff. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  12. Walls, Jason (26 July 2020). "Labour selects new Palmerston North candidate after Iain Lees-Galloway's sacking by Ardern". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  13. "Palmerston North - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  14. "Palmerston North - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Iain Lees-Galloway		 Member of Parliament for Palmerston North
2020–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Duncan McCann		 Deputy Mayor of Palmerston North
2016–2020		 Succeeded by
Aleisha Rutherford


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