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\nFar North Mayor Moko Tepania at the council’s head office in Kaikohe
\nPhoto: Northern Advocate \/ Michael Cunningham\n<\/p>\n
Far North mayor Moko Tepania has confirmed he is definitely staying on in the elected council’s top job and will not be standing as an MP at the coming general election.<\/p>\n
His confirmation comes as Far North District Council (FNDC) councillor Davina Smolders continues to publicly challenge him on whether he is intending to stand as a central government politician at the 7 November general election.<\/p>\n
Tepania’s confirmation follows Kerikeri Act local councillor Smolders’ post on social media post during Waitangi celebrations week, publicly congratulating Tepania<\/a> for becoming Northland’s Labour MP – a move which has resulted in her facing council code of conduct proceedings.<\/p>\n FNDC group manager for community and engagement Ruben Garcia confirmed at the time Smolders’ post was false.<\/p>\n Smolders said there was a great deal happening in the Far North, and having the mayor 100 percent focused on the district Far North was absolutely essential.<\/p>\n “Would the mayor do the community the courtesy of being open about his intentions for the upcoming election,” Smolders said.<\/p>\n In an email to Local Democracy Reporting Northland, Smolders said: “Residents of the Far North would reasonably like to know whether Mayor T\u0101pania (sic) intends to run for Government in the upcoming election.”<\/p>\n Tepania has clarified he will not be standing for the Labour Party or any other political party in the upcoming general election.<\/p>\n Neither would he be standing as an MP at the next general election in 2029.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n