Len Salt
Len Salt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leonard Thomas Arthur Salt 1956 (age 67–68) Auckland, New Zealand |
| 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 |
Leonard Thomas Arthur Salt (born c. 1956), better known as Len Salt, is a New Zealand local politician of Māori descent. He was elected Mayor of Thames-Coromandel District Council in 2022.
Early life
Salt grew up in
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
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 kāhaku, 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
- ^ "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
- New Zealand Herald. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- 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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