Two Samoan women are standing in council by-elections in Hamilton and Auckland.
Josephine Bartley is running for councilor in the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward in Auckland and Meleane Burgess is running for councilor in the Hamilton-East ward.
Lawyer Bartley says she wants to step up from her local board service.
"It's an opportunity to serve my community at a regional level," she says. "I know the issues in my community because I've been on the local board since 2010. I'm the chairperson and have been since November 2016 so I have the relationships with the community and the business and I want to make a difference."
Meanwhile, Burgess, the only Pacific candidate out of 15 people standing in the Hamilton City Council by-election, is stressing the need for diversity in local government.
"It's important that we have a Pacific Island representative and have a Pacific Island perspective on these decision-makings and I want to use my skills and expertise in this council."
Burgess is the founder and chair of the Waikato Pacific Business Network.
Postal voting for the vacancy in the Hamilton-East ward opens next Friday with a preliminary result to be announced on February 17.