The mayor of the Far North is the elected head of local government in the Far North District of New Zealand's North Island; one of 67 mayors in the country. The largest town in the district is Kerikeri and the council is based in Kaikohe. The mayor presides over the Far North District Council and is directly elected using the single transferable vote method.
The current mayor is Moko Tepania, first elected in October 2022 during that year's local elections. He is a member of the Te Rarawa and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa Māori iwi.
Method of election In August 2020, Far North District councillors unanimously voted to use the single transferable vote (STV) system in future elections. Then mayor John Carter abstained from voting on the issue. A non-binding survey of local residents on the issue received 637 submissions, resulting in 231-to-406 in favour of adopting STV. The council previously used a first-past-the-post system. This change of electoral system will be reconsidered following the 2025 local elections.
List of office holders
Mayors Name Portrait Term 1 Millie Srhoj 1989–1992 2 Sue James 1992–1998 3 Yvonne Sharp 1998–2007 4 Wayne Brown 2007–2013 5 John Carter 2013–2022 6 Moko Tepania 2022–present
Deputy mayors Name Portrait Term Mayor 1 Dover Samuels 1989–1992 Srhoj 2 ? 1992–1998 James 3 John Klaricich 1998–2004 Sharp 4 Laurie Byers 2004–2007 5 Sally Macauley 2007–2010 Brown 6 Ann Court 2010–2013 7 Tania McInnes 2013–2019Carter (6) Ann Court 2019–2022 8 Kelly Stratford 2022–2025 Tepania 9 Chicky Rudkin 2025–present
References