Leonard Thomas Arthur Salt (born c. 1956) is a New Zealand local politician of Māori descent. He was elected Mayor of Thames-Coromandel District Council in 2022.
Len Salt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Salt in 2016 | |
| Born | Leonard Thomas Arthur Salt 1956 (age 67–68)[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Politician and businessman |
| Spouse | Svargo |
| Mayor of Thames-Coromandel District Council | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Deputy | Terry Walker |
| Preceded by | Sandra Goudie |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Independent |
Early life
editSalt grew up in Auckland, New Zealand, the eldest of five children.[2][3] He is of Ngāpuhi and Tainui descent.[2][3]
In 2010, Salt and his wife Svargo moved to the coastal town of Whitianga, moving to Thames after he was elected in January 2023.[3]
Political career
editSalt first ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Thames-Coromandel in the 2019 New Zealand local elections.[4]
Salt was elected Mayor of Thames-Coromandel District Council in the 2022 New Zealand local elections with 5285 votes.[5] When he took his oath of office, he wore a new kākahu, a Māori cloak made specifically for the Mercury Bay community.[6]
In October 2023, the TCDC voted unanimously to support the establishment of a Māori ward or wards,[7] with Salt describing the move to improve Māori representation in council as "just a beginning".[8]
In July 2023[9] Salt replied to an email from a constituent by signing off with, “Go fuck yourself, kind regards, Len”.[10] The email was from a constituent associated with the sovereign citizen movement and was requesting the names and addresses of TCDC staff. The email was leaked by a political opponent in January 2024, and received wide media coverage. Salt was criticised by some political opponents, but also received praise on social media for taking a strong stance against harassment of public servants.[10] Salt said he had "no regrets", and that he had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the public in support of his blunt reply.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Len Salt – Candidate for Mayor of Thames-Coromandel – 2022", Policy.nz, archived from the original on 28 March 2023, retrieved 15 January 2024
- ^ a b Tantau, Kelley (27 June 2022), "Len Salt to stand for Mayor", www.valleyprofile.co.nz, archived from the original on 7 February 2023, retrieved 15 January 2024
- ^ a b c Tantau, Kelley (3 December 2023), "At home with Mayor Len Salt", www.valleyprofile.co.nz, retrieved 15 January 2024
- ^ "2019 Election Results", www.tcdc.govt.nz, Thames-Coromandel District Council, archived from the original on 10 July 2023, retrieved 15 January 2024
- ^ "2022 Elections Final Results", www.tcdc.govt.nz, Thames-Coromandel District Council, archived from the original on 10 February 2023, retrieved 15 January 2024
- ^ "Thames-Coromandel mayor first to wear new community kākahu at induction ceremony". New Zealand Herald. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ "Māori wards: Thames-Coromandel District Council unanimously votes for Māori representation". New Zealand Herald. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Delahunty, Catherine (2 December 2023), "The great leap backwards", E-Tangata, archived from the original on 22 December 2023, retrieved 17 January 2024
- ^ "Mayor has 'no regrets' for signing off email: 'f*** yourself'", 1News, TVNZ, 16 January 2024, retrieved 17 January 2024
- ^ a b Quill, Annemarie (15 January 2024), "Mayor has 'no regrets' over signing off email 'go f... yourself'", Stuff, archived from the original on 15 January 2024, retrieved 15 January 2024
- ^ "'Go f*** yourself' email: Mayor gets 'hugely positive response'", One News, TVNZ, 17 January 2024, retrieved 17 January 2024
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