Former Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board Chair Josephine Bartley has made history as the first Pacific woman to serve as an Auckland Councillor.
The 45-year-old Samoan won the by-election over the weekend, after the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki seat was vacated by the now MP Denise Lee.
Preliminary results show Bartley on 7211, beating the only other candidate Josh Beddell on 5637 votes.
Bartley will be sworn in as councillor for Maungakiekie-Tāmaki on Thursday and says she has a few priorities in sight.
"We've got so many developments that's happening in Onehunga, Mt. Wellington, Glen Innes, Panmure, Point England and it's about making sure that our communities know what's going on, making sure our infrastructure to match the growth that they're experiencing, look after our environment and trying to sort out our traffic congestion and also how we can support our young people."
Photo by Aupito Su'a William Sio. Caption: Josephine Bartley (centre) with Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito Su'a William Sio and fellow Labour supporters.