Margaret Kouvelis

Kouvelis was born in Nelson.^[1] She studied at the University of Auckland, and subsequently became a teacher in Queen's High School in Dunedin.^[1] After spending time in the United Kingdom, she was a teacher at Dunstan High School in Alexandra, and then at Freyberg High School in Palmerston North, before moving to Massey University's Centre for Educational Development.^[2] In 2002 she was appointed director of the New Zealand Teachers' Council, but resigned a year later.^[3] She subsequently became a consultant, edited a Presbyterian magazine, farmed olives, and ran a bookshop.^[1]

Kouvelis is the mother of former All Black Mark Ranby.^[1]

In 2010 Kouvelis was elected to the Manawatu District Council.^[4] In 2012 she won a by-election for Mayor following the resignation of Ian McKelvie, and was re-elected unopposed in 2013, but lost the mayoralty to Helen Worboys in 2016.^[5]