Vote
Ange Webster
Mauao
I’m standing because I care.
The 2025 Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council Election is this October.
Tēnā koutou katoa,
I'm Ange Webster and I'm standing in the upcoming Bay of Plenty Regional Council election for Mauao (Māori Ward).
The Regional Council makes decisions on water, air, transport, and climate that affect us all. I’ll bring strong leadership that upholds and embeds Te Tiriti, protects our Taiao and ensures our mokopuna inherit a future grounded in justice.
Ko wai ahau?
Ko Mauao te maunga
Ko Tauranga te moana
Ko Mātaatua te waka
He uri tēnei nō Ngai Te Rangi
Ko Hungahungatoroa me Maungatapu ngā marae
Ko Te Kani Atamatea te tupuna
He uri tēnei hoki mai Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai, Whakatohea, Te Whanau a Apanui me Ngāti Porou.
I tipu au ki Matapihi
Ko Ange Webster ahau.
My Mission
I care deeply about our people, our taiao, and our future. That’s why I’m standing — to enhance our mana by upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, protecting our taonga, and ensuring tangata whenua voices are heard where decisions are made.
I’m standing because I care – about connecting communities, active engagement, shared responsibility, and environmental protection. I care about our history, and our future and I have what it takes to represent our people. I will ensure Māori voices are heard everywhere.
My top 3 priorities
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Healthy wai, whenua & air
I stand to protect our wai, whenua, and air — ensuring they’re healthy, respected, and safeguarded for future generations. -
Infrastructure that connects us
We need infrastructure that connects communities, cuts emissions, and creates sustainable, accessible transport for a stronger, united region. -
Policies that prioritise the Taiao over profit
I fight for policies that prioritise protecting our Taiao, ensuring sustainability over profit-driven decisions every time.
True care means dismantling the systems that hold us back.
I stand for decolonisation – dismantling systems that don’t serve our people and building futures grounded in our tūpuna values and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It’s about care for our language, our mātauranga, our whenua, and our mokopuna, creating spaces where our communities thrive.
Why should you give me your vote?
I care because I always have
Growing up, I was a carer from an early age. My dad lived with a motor neurone disease and used a wheelchair, so disability, compassion, and responsibility were woven into daily life.
That was one of many experiences that taught me what it means to show up for others — not just in theory, but in practice. I’ve carried those values into every space I’ve entered: in work, in whānau, in service.
This is more than a campaign. It’s a continuation of a life of care — and I’m ready to serve our region with that same heart, strength, and drive.
I care about strong leadership that delivers results
Leadership means being willing to stand for something — and to stand up when it counts. I currently govern across multiple kaupapa with a combined asset base of over $100 million.
From challenging the Port and winning, to shaping strategy at the council table, I bring both heart and accountability.
I’ve helped uphold Treaty partnership structures, supported whānau into education and employment pathways, and made sure Māori voices are not just heard — but respected and acted on.
I care about fairness, and I’ve spent my life fighting for it
I’ve spent over 25 years working with unions and in employment relations, walking alongside people in some of their most stressful, uncertain moments.
I’ve supported hundreds of workers and whānau — navigating restructures, disputes, and power imbalances — always upholding the value of koha when giving advice, because I know the real-life toll of these issues.
I’ve worked with unions, employers, kaumātua, and community groups across Aotearoa. And what drives me is fairness — not just on paper, but in real life.
I care about connection — to whenua, whānau, community, and taiao
I was born and raised on my whānau land and returned to Matapihi in 2017 after my mum passed, to live in our whānau homestead.
This connection to whenua and whānau is the foundation of everything I do — it keeps me grounded and accountable.
But connection doesn’t stop there. Our taiao — our rivers, forests, and skies — are taonga too. Protecting the environment is protecting our people, our identity, and our future.
I’m committed to working for strong community, cultural protection, and environmental stewardship that honours the balance between all living things.
I care about the systems we raise our whānau in
Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to uplift our people. I’ve seen this firsthand as a teacher, a parent, and a school board leader.
I’ve taught across the rohe — from Mount Intermediate to Te Akau ki Papamoa — and chaired the Mount College board for over six years.
I’ve advocated for tamariki, whānau, and educators at every level because I know how vital strong, values-led governance is in shaping the systems we raise our next generation in.
I care about a future where Māori have a real voice — one that can be seen, heard, and felt
I’m running for Regional Council because I believe in a future where Māori leadership is more than just a seat at the table — it’s a presence that can be seen, heard, and felt.
A future where our values shape policy, where our knowledge guides decision-making, and where our rangatiratanga is respected in every corner of the region.
I’ve walked alongside iwi, hapū, and community as a genuine partner, and I will continue to fight for the representation, resources, and respect our people deserve.
This is about creating a space where Māori futures thrive — not on the margins, but at the heart of everything we do.
Te Tiriti
Upholding the true intent of Tiriti o Waitangi is at the heart of how I work. I’ve supported iwi and hapū to have a real voice in council decisions, and I’ll keep advocating for genuine partnership & decision-making. Not just consultation.
If elected, I’ll push for the true Tiriti to be embedded in all council policies and processes, ensure regular engagement with Māori communities, and support training so staff and councillors understand their role in honouring tangata whenua. This is long-term mahi, and I’m committed to doing it right.
I care about showing up — and I will.
I’m committed to genuinely connecting with the people of the Bay of Plenty — not just during elections, but always. You’ll find me on the ground at marae, community events, and hui across the region. Listening, learning, and standing alongside you is how I lead.
Enhancing our mana,
Strengthening our future.
Korero mai
021 023 77 412
angewebster1@gmail.com
Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council
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Who are they?
BOP regional council is made up of 14 councillors that make decisions for the Bay of Plenty Region.
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What do they do?
They look after land, air, water and public transport across the Bay of Plenty.
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Election Info
The next Bay of Plenty Regional Council local election will be held on Saturday 11 October 2025.