Mayor of Far North explained

Post:	Mayor
Body:	Far North
Incumbent:	Moko Tepania
Native Name:	Te Kahika o Te Hiku o te Ika
Style:	His/Her Worship
Incumbentsince:	2022
Seat:	Kaikohe
Termlength:	3 years, renewable
Formation:	1989
First:	Millie Srhoj
Deputy:	Kelly Stratford
Salary:	162,879^[1]
Website:	Official website

The mayor of Far North is the head of local government in the Far North District of New Zealand's North Island. The mayor presides over the meetings of the Far North District Council. The mayor 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.

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.^[2]

List of mayors

	Mayor		Affiliation		Term	Deputy		Affiliation		Term
1		Miljenko "Millie" Srhoj		?	1989–1992		Dover Samuels		?	1989–1992
2		Sue James		?	1992–1998^[3]		?		?	1992–1998
3		Yvonne Sharp	?	1998–2007^[4]		John Klaricich		?	1998–2004^[5]
					Laurie Byers		?	2004–2007
4		Wayne Brown	?	2007–2013^[6]		Sally Macauley		?	2007–2010
					Ann Court		?	2010–2013^[7]
5		John Carter	None^[8] ^[9] ^[10]	2013–2022^[11]		Tania McInnes		Independent	2013–2019^[12]
							None
					Ann Court		None	2019–2022
6		Moko Tepania		None^[13]	2022–present^[14]		Kelly Stratford		Independent	2022–present^[15]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Edmunds . Susan . 13 June 2024 . How much your local council gets paid . 28 June 2024 . Radio New Zealand.
2. Web site: 19 August 2020 . Far North District Council to use Single Transferable Vote system . 28 June 2024 . NZHerald . Northern Advocate.
3. News: 24 June 2019 . Carter makes bid for third term as Far North Mayor . 7 June 2020 . The Northern Advocate.
4. News: Gee . Tony . 1 August 2007 . Mayor ups the ante in Far North contest . 7 June 2020 . The New Zealand Herald.
5. Web site: 4 June 2013 . Another honour to be shared . . The Northland Age.
6. News: 14 October 2010 . Far North election results . 7 June 2020 . The Bay Chronicle.
7. Web site: 2 August 2022 . Ann Court to run for Far North Mayor . . The Northland Age.
8. Web site: Local Government Elections . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160127012922/http://www.fndc.govt.nz/your-council/local-government-elections/Copy-of-FNDC-FinalResults-2013.pdf . 27 January 2016 . 28 June 2024 . Far North District Council.
9. Web site: Local Government Elections . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170402074847/https://www.fndc.govt.nz/your-council/local-government-elections#a0 . 2 April 2017 . 28 June 2024 . Far North District Council.
10. Web site: Elections . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200120190925/https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Elections#section-2 . 20 January 2020 . Far North District Council.
11. News: Botting . Susan . 7 September 2022 . Far North Mayor John Carter ends half-century-plus New Zealand government career . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221022035036/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/474324/far-north-mayor-john-carter-ends-half-century-plus-new-zealand-government-career . 22 October 2022 . 2 May 2023 . Radio New Zealand.
12. Web site: 18 March 2019 . Deputy Mayor Tania McInnes declares bid for Far North mayoralty . . The Northern Advocate.
13. Web site: 8 October 2022 . DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF ELECTION . Far North District Council.
14. Web site: Moko Tepania makes history as Far North's new mayor . 14 October 2022 . The Northern Advocate . . Peter . de Graaf.
15. Web site: de Graaf . Peter . 17 October 2022 . Kelly Stratford named Far North's new deputy mayor . . The Northern Advocate.