\u201cI think I\u2019ll win it,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe is uri [a descendant], whereas I\u2019m from Taranaki, so that would make sense, but I have a very close relationship with iwi leaders. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m not elected to the M\u0101ori ward, I will respect democracy, but I\u2019ll still keep contributing to the areas that I care about the most,\u201d Whanau said.<\/p>\n
After announcing she was quitting the mayoral race, she said on social media she would \u201cprobably run again for mayor in 2028\u2033.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about the long game and allowing some recharge in between to sustain our delivery,\u201d Whanau said in a post on Bluesky at the time.<\/p>\n
She has now changed her mind, saying she would \u201cprobably not\u201d seek the mayoralty in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve reflected a lot and when I look at what has been achieved at council under my mayoralty, which is pretty much everything I promised except for light rail, I\u2019m actually quite happy with what I\u2019ve left here, I don\u2019t think I need to run for the mayoralty again.\u201d<\/p>\n
During her 2022 campaign, Whanau was asked about \u201cWellington whispers\u201d that claimed she was only running for mayor to boost her profile for a shot on the Green Party list, but brushed it off saying she was committed to running for the mayoralty.<\/p>\n
Whanau is a former Green Party chief of staff.<\/p>\n
Tory Whanau with friends and supporters after it was announced she won the Wellington Mayoralty in 2022. Photo \/ Mark Mitchell<\/p>\n
Since then she has been open about her political ambitions, telling Newstalk ZB in a 2023 interview she would \u201clove to have a crack at being a minister\u201d in the future and had her eye on the portfolio areas of Civil Defence, M\u0101ori Development, and Foreign Affairs.<\/p>\n
Asked whether she could commit to serving a full term if elected to the M\u0101ori ward, Whanau said she could and ruled out a run for Parliament in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201c2029 is probably more of a goal for me, I\u2019m committing to the M\u0101ori ward, and I really hope I\u2019m elected and I\u2019ll do that to the very end. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m not, I\u2019ll be focusing on other work, where I can contribute to safety for women in politics, leadership, other ways that I can help Wellington City.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said she did not want to run for next year\u2019s general election as she\u2019s \u201cjust not ready yet\u201d and would rather focus on working in leadership before entering Parliament.<\/p>\n
She confirmed any future Parliament run would be for the Green Party.<\/p>\n
Although she would not commit to a 2029 run, Whanau did say she was \u201c100% confident\u201d she would run for Parliament one day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in politics for 10 years now as chief of staff, now the mayor. I know exactly what being an MP entails, it makes sense that I would head that way, with the political experience that I have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whanau also revealed she has joined the speaking circuit, signing up to an organisation to be a public speaker at events and conferences to talk about resilient leadership, which she plans to do alongside council work if elected.<\/p>\n
If unsuccessful in next month\u2019s election, Whanau said she could likely go back to consulting and work in communications helping organisations and causes she cares about.<\/p>\n
When she ran for the mayoralty in 2022, Whanau put her party membership on hold<\/a> in an attempt to build trust with independent councillors.<\/p>\n