Councillor, Whakatāne District Council

Toni Boynton is a passionate advocate for Māori empowerment and community wellbeing. Motivated by the historical denial of Māori voices in local government, Toni's leadership as a founding member of Te Ropū Tautoko Māori helped remove the veto on Māori Wards, resulting in their establishment in 35 councils across Aotearoa New Zealand. Toni has been the Co-Chair of the Taneatua Community Board, deputy and acting Chair of Te Waimana Kaaku Tribal, Mataatua Delegate for the New Zealand Māori Council, and is a trustee for both Ngā Toenga o Iharaira and for her marae, Tuapo, Matahi Waimana. She was also awarded the Atlantic Fellows Scholarship for Social Equity to complete her master’s in leadership and social equity at Melbourne University.