The Manurewa Local Board () is one of the 21 local boards of the Auckland Council. It is overseen by the Manurewa-Papakura ward councillors.
The local board area includes the areas of Wiri, Hillpark, Manurewa East, Homai, Weymouth and Wattle Downs.
Geography The area covered by the Manurewa Local Board includes a mixture of hills and Manukau Harbour coastline. It incorporates both the main suburb of Manurewa. and the surrounding suburbs of Manukau Heights, Totara Heights, Hillpark, Randwick Park, The Gardens, Alfriston, Wattle Downs, Weymouth, Clendon Park, Homai and Wiri.
There is an extensive range of shops along Great South Road, including Southmall Manurewa, while the Wiri industrial park is a major employment centre. Other features of the area include Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa Aquatic Centre and the Randwick Park. Demographics Manurewa Local Board Area covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2.
Manurewa Local Board Area had a population of 98,784 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3,114 people (3.3%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 16,542 people (20.1%) since the 2013 census. There were 49,302 males, 49,233 females and 249 people of other genders in 25,938 dwellings. 2.2% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 31.0 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 24,000 people (24.3%) aged under 15 years, 23,682 (24.0%) aged 15 to 29, 41,994 (42.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 9,105 (9.2%) aged 65 or older.
People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 24.5% European (Pākehā); 25.2% Māori; 39.9% Pasifika; 27.6% Asian; 2.1% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 1.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 90.7%, Māori language by 6.4%, Samoan by 13.4%, and other languages by 24.8%. No language could be spoken by 3.0% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.5%. The percentage of people born overseas was 38.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.
Religious affiliations were 44.0% Christian, 8.1% Hindu, 3.1% Islam, 2.6% Māori religious beliefs, 1.5% Buddhist, 0.2% New Age, 0.1% Jewish, and 5.0% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 29.1%, and 6.6% of people did not answer the census question.
Of those at least 15 years old, 11,724 (15.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 35,688 (47.7%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 27,378 (36.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $37,300, compared with $41,500 nationally. 4,629 people (6.2%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 37,782 (50.5%) people were employed full-time, 6,786 (9.1%) were part-time, and 3,870 (5.2%) were unemployed.
2025-2028 term The current board members for the 2025-2028 term, elected at the 2025 local elections, are: NameAffiliationPositionHeather AndrewManurewa Action TeamChairpersonItalia Tipelu-MarstersManurewa Action TeamDeputy ChairpersonGlenn MurphyManurewa Action TeamBoard memberJoseph Allan#LoveManurewaBoard memberRangi McLeanManurewa Action TeamBoard memberMarshal AhluwaliaManurewa Action TeamBoard memberPhyllis LatuManurewa Action TeamBoard memberRaewyn BhanaManurewa Action TeamBoard member
In May 2026, Auckland Council referred board member Marshal Ahluwalia to the Serious Fraud Office following allegations of corruption and financial intimidation.Tom, Blesson (28 May 2026). "Manurewa Local Board member referred to Serious Fraud Office",RNZ. Accessed 25 August 2026. Following this, Ahluwalia took a leave of absence before resuming his duties in late-June. In response to his return, Manurewa-Papakura councillors Daniel Newman and Matt Winiata said they would be boycotting the board's business meetings as long as Ahluwalia stayed on as a board member.Afemata, Taelegalolo'u Mary (17 July 2026). "Councillors refuse to attend board meetings after Ahluwalia's return", Pacific Media Network. Accessed 25 August 2026.Maher, Rachel (17 July 2026). "Auckland councillors boycott Manurewa board over Marshal Ahluwalia return", The New Zealand Herald. Accessed 25 August 2026.
In August 2026, The New Zealand Herald reported that a whistleblower had made allegations of electoral fraud for the elections to the Manurewa local board during the 2025 elections to Auckland Council.Nichols, Lane (14 August 2026). Manurewa election: Fresh vote-rigging allegations made to Auckland Council and SFO, The New Zealand Herald . Accessed 24 August 2026. The council passed the allegations onto the police and the Serious Fraud Office, and appointed independent governance observers Michael Barnett, former head of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and Tania Winslade to the Manurewa local board.Smith, Sam (24 August 2026). Observer appointed to local board as allegations of electoral fraud emerge in Auckland again, Stuff. Accessed 24 August 2026."Independent observers appointed to Auckland local board", Eastern Times, 28 August 2026. Accessed 30 August 2026.Nichols, Lane (27 August 2026). "Former Chamber boss Michael Barnett appointed to Manurewa board as vote-rigging scandal deepens", The New Zealand Herald. Accessed 30 August 2026.
2022-2025 term The board members for the 2022-2025 term, elected at the 2022 local elections, were: NameTicket (if any)Position Matt Winiata Manurewa Action Team Chairperson Glenn Murphy Manurewa Action Team Deputy ChairpersonRangi McLeanManurewa Action TeamBoard memberJoseph Allan#LoveManurewaBoard member Andrew Lesa #LoveManurewaBoard member Angela Cunningham-Marino #LoveManurewaBoard member Anne CandyManurewa Action Team Board member Heather AndrewManurewa Action TeamBoard member
In July 2025, Andrew Lesa announced his resignation from all public and governance roles, including his position on the Manurewa Local Board, following a Stuff investigation which found that parts of his publicly stated biography were inaccurate.
2019–2022 term The board members for the 2019-2022 term, elected at the 2019 local body elections, were: Joseph Allan, Manurewa Action Team – (7027 votes) Anne Candy, Manurewa Action Team – (6712 votes) Rangi McLean, Manurewa Action Team – (6695 votes) Ken Penney, Manurewa Action Team – (6682 votes) Glenn Murphy, Manurewa Action Team – (6041 votes) Melissa Atama, Manurewa Action Team – (6030 votes) David Pizzini, Manurewa Action Team – (5843 votes) Tabetha Gorrie, Manurewa Action Team – (4963 votes)
2016–2019 term The board members who served from the 2016 local body elections to the 2019 elections were: Angela Dalton (Chair) Stella Cattle (Deputy chair) Joseph Allan Rangi McLean Sarah Colcord Angela Cunningham-Marino Ken Penney Dave Pizzini
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