Mayor of the Far North
Heads of a municipal government in New Zealand
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The mayor of the Far North is the elected head of local government in the Far North District of New Zealand's North Island; one of 67 mayors in the country. The largest town in the district is Kerikeri and the council is based in Kaikohe. The mayor presides over the Far North District Council and is directly elected using the single transferable vote method.
| Mayor of the Far North | |
|---|---|
| Te Kahika o Te Hiku o te Ika | |
Coat of arms of the Far North District | |
| Style | His/Her Worship |
| Seat | Kaikohe |
| Term length | 3 years, renewable |
| Formation | 1989 |
| First holder | Millie Srhoj |
| Deputy | Chicky Rudkin[1] |
| Salary | $162,879[2] |
| Website | Official website |

The current mayor is Moko Tepania, first elected in October 2022 during that year's local elections. He is a member of the Te Rarawa and Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa Māori iwi.[3]
Method of election
In August 2020, Far North District councillors unanimously voted to use the single transferable vote (STV) system in future elections. Then mayor John Carter abstained from voting on the issue. A non-binding survey of local residents on the issue received 637 submissions, resulting in 231-to-406 in favour of adopting STV. The council previously used a first-past-the-post system. This change of electoral system will be reconsidered following the 2025 local elections.[4]
List of office holders
Mayors
| Name | Portrait | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millie Srhoj | 1989–1992 | |
| 2 | Sue James | 1992–1998[5] | |
| 3 | Yvonne Sharp | 1998–2007[6] | |
| 4 | Wayne Brown | 2007–2013[7] | |
| 5 | John Carter | 2013–2022[8] | |
| 6 | Moko Tepania | 2022–present[9] |
Deputy mayors
| Name | Portrait | Term | Mayor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dover Samuels | 1989–1992 | Srhoj | |
| 2 | ? | 1992–1998 | James | |
| 3 | John Klaricich | 1998–2004[10] | Sharp | |
| 4 | Laurie Byers | 2004–2007 | ||
| 5 | Sally Macauley | 2007–2010 | Brown | |
| 6 | Ann Court | 2010–2013[11] | ||
| 7 | Tania McInnes | 2013–2019[12] | Carter | |
| (6) | Ann Court | 2019–2022[11] | ||
| 8 | Kelly Stratford | 2022–2025[13] | Tepania | |
| 9 | Chicky Rudkin | 2025–present[1] |