“Would the mayor do the community the courtesy of being open about his intentions for the upcoming election,” Smolders said.
In an email, Smolders said: “Residents of the Far North would reasonably like to know whether Mayor Tāpania (sic) intends to run for Government in the upcoming election”.
Tepania has clarified he will not be standing for the Labour Party or any other political party in the upcoming general election.
Neither would he be standing as an MP at the next general election in 2029.
Tepania said at his Kaikohe 2025 second term inauguration in October he wanted to pursue a Doctor of Education, further developing his work on the use of maramataka or the Māori lunar calendar in education at the end of the current council term.
He would not respond to Smolders’ Waitangi Week post or her latest comments as council code of conduct proceedings were underway.
Smolders refused to say where she got the information from that led to her post.
Far North District councillor Davina Smolders. Photo / Susan Botting
Smolders said at the time she had put up the post after several individuals told her Tepania had secured the candidacy.
“I believed that to be public information,” Smolders said.
She would not say who the individuals were.
“I have apologised, and from my perspective, that is the end of the matter.”
Her post was up for just over a day.
Smolders said she posted it on February 3 about 10pm.
She removed the post on February 5 about 7am, as soon as she realised it was incorrect.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.