Watch the full Local Focus interview for Hana Tapiata's views on the region's biggest issues, and our less important quickfire questions.
"Born into movements for Māori by Māori" is how Māori ward candidate Hana Tapiata describes herself.
After being a candidate in 2020 for Te Pāti Māori, Tapiata has become a māmā and says she decided to focus on local body politics because it's closer to home.
"I feel more drawn to this type of position in service of my community here in Rotorua," she said.
Co-governance can be effective, Tapiata believes, if "done well with good processes in place and clear communications".