Mary Tipoki

Hi, I am Mary Tipoki. I am standing for Council because I believe I can bring experience and local knowledge to the decision-making table. I enjoy politics and have taken a keen interest since I first arrived here 45years ago. Although I have a clear vision of where I think we should go, I know that if elected my responsibility is to represent my electorate not myself. Having served the public at Lake Ferry Hotel for 21years I believe I am well known, approachable and a good listener.

I am a successful business woman and with my husband have bought and built up three businesses. I am also a Registered Nurse and have worked in the South Wairarapa as a Public Health and District Nurse delivering Heath programmes and caring for people in their homes.
I am a doer and have served my community at all levels including, Playcentre Superviser, Chairperson Pirinoa Board of Trustees, Wairarapa College Board of Trustees Member, Wairarapa School Trustees Association Representative and Trainer, founding Chairperson Tuhirangi JAB.
I set up the Lake Ferry Sport and Recreation Committee to fundraise and build the Children’s Playground and initiated the restoration planting at Lake Onoke.

I have a good understanding of the role of council having accessed their services for many years. I also actively supported the Lake Ferry Sewage system (the first coastal system in the Wairarapa which also fully discharges to land) and initiated the Pirinoa Community water supply system.

We have an infrastructure in the South Wairarapa that is second to none. We have some of the best farming land in the country, world class scenery, proximity to the capital city as a market and I see no reason not to achieve full employment and a thriving economy.
My vision for the Wairarapa is a strong, well consulted administrative structure, an inclusive and tolerant social community, an economic and environmentally sustainable primary industry structure, a consent process that encourages not discourages small businesses, an employment policy that is proactive and values each persons’ contribution, a social policy that addresses equity and a tourism policy that supports quality not quantity.
I have a dream that one day we will restore Wairarapa Moana to its former glory and establish a Wet-Lands National Park that is worthy of the name “Glistening Waters”.
Authorised by Mary Tipoki, RD 2 Featherston