Len Salt
Len Salt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Salt in 2016 | |
| Born | Leonard Thomas Arthur Salt 1956 (age 69–70)[1] |
| Occupations | Politician and businessman |
| Spouse | Svargo |
| Mayor of Thames-Coromandel District Council | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Deputy | Terry Walker |
| Preceded by | Sandra Goudie |
| Personal details | |
| Party | Independent |
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.
Early life
[edit | edit source]Salt 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
[edit | edit source]Salt 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
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