Alf Filipaina, who has been involved in local government since 2003, has announced he will not seek re-election for council. Photo: LDR
Manukau Ward councillor Alf Filipaina has announced he will not seek re-election for council, but hopes to run for a local board seat in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, South Auckland.
"I thought it might be time to bring in someone younger, so I put a succession plan in place before the 2022 election," Filipaina, who has been involved in local government since 2003, said.
The veteran Pacific politician had already ruled out a bid for the Auckland mayoralty.
"It's a rich man's [game], you need money."
He estimated it would cost $300,000 - $500,000 to campaign for mayor and he would need to get a loan to cover any shortfall.
Filipaina said he hopes to remain in local government on the local board, but it would depend on whether he gets selected to run and then elected.
Labour is due to announce the successful local board selections on 20 March, he said.
Last weekend, the party confirmed Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chair Tauanu'u Nick Bakulich and councillor Lotu Fuli as its candidates for the Manukau ward.
"[Tauanu'u's] got, obviously, history with the local board … he's a very good community man, and so I'll just be supporting him," Filipaina said.
Māori and Pasifika representation
Since 2010, Filipaina has served as a regional councillor in Auckland. Before that, he was a Manukau councillor and served with the Police for 38 years.
Filipaina said he is aware of the consistently low voter turnout in Ōtara-Papatoetoe, which has recorded the lowest participation rate in Auckland over the last three local elections: - 27.3 per cent in 2016, 22.7 per cent in 2019, and 22 per cent in 2022.
Filipaina also highlighted the lack of Māori and Pasifika representation in the governing body.
"If you have a look at the demographics around that table, representing, I won't be there as one of the Māori councillors, nor will Kerrin [Leoni]."
He notes the presence of Richard Hills, who has Māori heritage, and Pacific councillors Josephine Bartley, Lotu Fuli, and hopeful candidate Tauanu'u.
Despite their strong commitment to serving the community, Māori and Pasifika remain a minority in the governing body where key decisions are made - a gap that still needs to be addressed, Filipaina said.
"Make your voice heard by voting," he urged.
Call for community engagement
"The learning ground for our community, from a cultural perspective, and that's across the board - Pasifika, Ethnic, Māori - is to get involved with the local board," he said.
He pointed to successful candidates like the late Fa'anāna Efeso Collins and Councillor Lotu Fuli who started with the local board.
"Get involved with local politics by going to the local board meetings. If you have any questions, ring me. My number will be on the Auckland Council website."
Filipaina's secret to 22 years of service
When asked about the secret behind his long-standing service, Filipaina attributed it to honesty.
"It's being honest with our community. Obviously, I had a profile anyway because I was in the police for 38 and a half years in South Auckland," he said.
"I grew up in Māngere East since 1960 - we moved from up north.
"So that's the secret - always be honest. And when people ask for help, don't just pass them on to someone else. Do as much as you can, then give them options."
As his tenure as a councillor comes to an end, Filipaina said what he would miss the most are the staff who keep Auckland Council functioning.
"A lot of the liaising, communication, and work I was doing involved talking to local board staff in Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, as well as working with our directors and the CEO. So I'm going to miss working with the staff who handle the regional stuff."
Filipaina's vision for the future of local government
Asked if Auckland would ever see a Pacific Mayor, Filipaina said there is a succession plan and he is optimistic.
"The short answer is yes, we will and for me personally, never say never," he said.
"I know that from a service perspective for me, that's why I'm staying in local government.
"I'm not saying that I'm putting myself to pasture because I want to continue to help the community."
Filipaina said his succession plan involves mentoring to ensure continued service to the community, just as he intends to do at the local board level.
"I'm going to continue to help our community and, if I get elected, help our community in Māngere, Otāhuhu."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
