Young Justice To Stand For Council

One of the country’s youngest Justices of the Peace is to run for election to the Palmerston North City Council.

Palmerston North based Tangi Utikere is believed to be one of the country’s youngest to sit on the bench. He was sworn in as a JP in 2007 at the age of 27 years old, and currently sits in the Palmerston North and Feilding District Courts.

He was the highest-polling unsuccessful candidate for the Takaro ward in the 2007 elections, missing out on a seat at the council table by a mere 64 votes.

The 30 year old will continue to stand on a diversity and representation platform in the Palmerston North City Council elections. He will again contest a seat in the Takaro ward.

Mr Utikere said he decided to run after coming so close last time, and that many supporters had encouraged him to have another crack at it. He also believed “the council still needed more balanced representation”.

The second-time candidate believes councils owe it to their ratepayers to provide first-class baseline services like quality water, roading and rubbish/recycling initiatives. “Getting the basics right should still be the number one priority of any council”.

Mr Utikere named rates, representation and council progress as key election issues.

"It’s important for councillors to debate the issues, not the personalities. Once the issue has been discussed and debated, and a decision has been made, councillors need to get in behind the decision. That’s how progress happens”.

Mr Utikere said he was looking forward to the campaign and he offers “decisions based on common sense, that are in the best interests of the whole city”.

ENDS

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