General Elections 2023
Bay of Plenty
Tom Rutherford - National
Passionate about the Bay of Plenty, being born and raised here, I’m committed to our community, living here with my partner Hannah.
I seek your support so I can be a strong and influential advocate for this region. My work experience is in local government, policy, communications and media - most recently for Rotorua Mayor, Tania Tapsell.
Deeply involved in our community, I’m a Mount Maunganui volunteer firefighter, Greerton Cricket Club captain, NZ hockey umpire and BOP rugby referee.
We want our community to be New Zealand’s best with a strong economy, lower cost of living, resilient infrastructure, improved health services, world-class education, and affordable housing.
I pledge I will fight hard every day for the Bay of Plenty. At this year’s election I will be asking for both your votes: your party vote so National can change the Government and your local vote so I can represent you in Parliament.
Dr Wendy Gillespie (Ph.D Strategy and Performance, Ngati Kahungunu) - Leighton Barker Party
Dr Wendy Gillespie is born and raised in the Bay of Plenty, she has a strong belief in people taking responsibility for doing the right thing. “There are too many politicians and bureaucrats who have forgotten who they are working for, and without healthy communities there is no thriving economy and vice versa.”
Her experience in community, iwi, charities and central government means she has seen the best and the worst of people. She has integrity like few others and can’t be swayed by power and money – she says she has “seen it all, how people get persuaded by power trips, greed and bullying”.
She has studied governance models, leadership skills and high performing organisational systems while working and studying a Ph.D. Wendy knows how to fix our broken electoral and public service systems. Her goal is to change the system from the inside out.
Wendy has five grandchildren and believes in NZs self-sufficiency.
Pare Taikato - Labour
Proud to be standing to represent the Bay of Plenty. I’m born and bred in the Bay with tribal links spanning both Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty electorates.
As a student I worked picking kiwifruit – now I am strategic governor of that same kiwifruit business. I have held key leadership roles heading the strategic direction of a number of high value horticulture businesses.
As a business leader my mission is to create inter-generational prosperity, and good jobs for our people. I truly believe that prosperity should be accessible for everyone with the right support and investment from government.
I am a busy sole parent to my teenage son, and I know families need Labour’s focus on the cost of living and investing in public services and safe communities.
I humbly seek your support so I can continue to be a strong regional voice for our part of the world.
Cameron Luxton - ACT
I have a background in blue-collar work, construction, and farming. I am passionate about my family and my country and believe that every New Zealander deserves to live a prosperous life. I am also a skilled tradesman and currently own a building business based in Papamoa, the town where I grew up.
I believe that the way to secure a prosperous future for New Zealand is to maintain values that have been proven to work in the past, such as equality, property rights, and democratic input. The ACT Party champions these values, and I want to join the ACT team to help move New Zealand in the right direction. I am committed to working hard to make New Zealand a better place for all. The ACT Party is the best vehicle for achieving this goal, and I am excited to join the team.
Kirsten Murfitt - NZ First
Kirsten is a commercial and property lawyer with over 20 years experience. She runs her legal and is frustrated with the lengthy disruptions to business caused by the Cameron Road project (which includes the placement of half a bus stop over her commercial driveway).
Locals will know Kirsten for her stand against the new pool register which the Council backed down on and running for the DHB 2016. Kirsten and her son also raised the most money in New Zealand for Shave for a Cure in 2019.
Kirsten is deeply concerned about the erosion of democracy and the trajectory that New Zealand is on – the economy, the crumbling health system, crime, cost of living, ideological agendas, racism, and separatism.
Kirsten would like to restore democracy to the Tauranga Council and continue to advocate for an independent Covid-19 inquiry to look at whether the decisions made and steps taken, were justified.
Tauranga
Jan Tinetti - Labour
I love Tauranga. I can’t imagine a better place to live, learn, work and play.
Tauranga has so much potential. We can be a centre of innovation and inclusion, sustainable and diverse, a growing city that provides opportunities and work-life balance others can only dream about.
I’ve spent most of my working life as a teacher, and was principal of Merivale School for eleven years. It was a privilege to lead this school, and to support so many families in our Tauranga community. Throughout that time I was a fierce advocate for great educational opportunities to all Kiwi kids. I am proud to serve as Minister for Education. I will always fight to invest in our kids.
I’m in politics because I want all New Zealanders can access the services and support they need to thrive. I’m proud of the investments Labour has made, and there’s lots more to do.
Christine Young - ACT
I’m a Chinese Kiwi, born in Balclutha and grew up on a market garden in Levin. I graduated with an LLB/BCom from Victoria Uni. I am a chartered accountant having worked in Wellington, Oxford and then London, before settling on Tauranga in 2006. My side hustle of teaching Taekwon-Do overtook my corporate life, and now I am a small business owner. I have been the NZ team coach and high performance director for ITF Taekwon-Do.
I’m standing for ACT because NZ needs fresh thinking to effect real change for a better future. Instead of red tape, high taxes, and wasteful government spending, we need policies that reward hard work and increase productivity. Instead of cuddling up to criminals, we need to give police a clear mandate to stop crime. Instead of co-governance, we need equality and a fair go for all New Zealanders. I urge you to Party Vote ACT.
Sam Uffindell - National
This is the best place to live in New Zealand with amazing beaches, natural beauty and enormous potential. I want to see Tauranga as an advanced, modern, diverse city and future tech hub, with a strong economy and a lower cost of living.
Alongside rebuilding our economy and restoring law and order, transport is a key issue. I’ve helped National commit to significantly upgrading SH29 and Stage Two of the Takitimu Northern Link.
Since I was elected last year, I’ve greatly enjoyed meeting people across Tauranga. In Wellington, I work hard on representing our local issues and am currently National’s Horticulture spokesperson.
Prior to politics I worked in financial services in Sydney, Singapore and New Zealand.
I live with my wife and our three children and enjoy surfing, reading, landscaping and cooking (and eating).
I’m here to advocate strongly for you to make our vision for Tauranga become a reality.
Erika Harvey – NZ First
Erika is a well-known community advocate and business owner in Tauranga.
Following a background in corporate sales and marketing, Erika has transferred her skill set into community advocacy. The general manager for a local youth charity, she is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to education and wrap-around services for children and youth.
Alongside her current tenures, Erika has also been on various community boards and working groups, including with Tauranga City Council, Bay of Plenty District Health Board, and as former Chairperson of Greerton Village School.
An American-born New Zealander, Erika has made Tauranga her home for almost 15 years and is intent on giving her community a stronger voice in parliament. Her work in local marine issues as an affected business owner have inspired her to further advocate for her community by standing for New Zealand First.
Erika lives locally with husband Dan, and their two children, 12-year-old Piper and new baby Ziggy.
Larry Baldock - Independent
Over the past 20 years, I have worked hard to support positive developments in our city in both Central and Local Government.
When in Parliament, I secured a commitment in 2005 to address Tauranga’s transport issues, but now we are referred to as "the city with the most congestion".
Hosting the country’s largest port has benefits, but we must live with freight for NZ’s imports and exports passing through where we live, work and play.
The air quality in our city is unacceptable, especially in the Mount North residential areas.
Meanwhile, our housing shortage gets worse being held up by major improvements needed to Governments State Highways and our local transport network.
As an independent candidate for Tauranga in this election I will be free to represent these and other issues consistently without the constraint of Party affiliation.
Your voice in Wellington. I ask only for your electorate vote.
Leon Samuels - Vision NZ
I am a proud Tauranga local, born and raised on Matakana Island and now residing in Bethlehem. My wife and I have been happily married for 18yrs and have 3 beautiful children. Being a regional director and facilitator for the successful Man Up program, I have helped many men and their families come into a greater disposition in life. I have also facilitated successful youth mentoring programs, working with young adolescents over the years.
I entered politics because every decision made at a parliamentary level, ultimately impacts every household. The pride of every country lies in the health, wellbeing and prosperity of its people. The future success of our country, lies in the equipping and success of our homes.
I believe I have the moral integrity and character to be a true representative of our city, ensuring true democracy is at the forefront of all decision making.
