Former regional councillor Toi Iti will stand in the Bay of Plenty Regional Council by-election for the Eastern Bay of Plenty general constituency, the seat left vacant by the death of councillor Malcolm Campbell.

Campbell, who served 27 years on Kawerau District Council, including seven terms as mayor, died on May 21 after a short illness. Iti served alongside him on the regional council for a triennium and publicly backed him for this same seat when Iti himself stepped away from the council in 2025.

“Malcolm’s passing came as a real shock, and the turnout at his funeral was a testament to the man and everything he gave his community,” Iti said.

“The call to step up wasn’t something I saw coming either. A number of people reached out to me directly, including sitting councillors, and asked me to stand, which is humbling. It is gratifying to be thought of, and to know they feel I can bring value to the space.”

Iti did not seek re-election in 2025, choosing instead to put his energy into Ātea, the Indigenous creative hub being established on The Strand in Whakatāne by Te Ahi Tahutahu Charitable Trust. He says that work continues regardless.

“When I stepped away, part of that decision was to focus on Ātea alongside my whānau, and we have made real inroads. We have strategic funding partners at the table and exciting plans on the boil, and none of that stops,” he said.

“But I work as part of a talented and skilled team, with a supportive whānau and community around me. My sabbatical allowed us to lay solid foundations, and because those foundations are now in place, I am able to consider returning to the council to help out.”

Asked whether the frustrations that had also informed his earlier decision had eased, Iti said they had not, but that the ground had shifted.

“The writing was on the wall with regard to the disestablishment of regional councils, and I wasn’t interested in treading water,” he said.

“But the focus has now moved to what comes next for environmental and local governance in this region, and that is a conversation I am very interested in having.

“The next two years are about transition, and there are some big decisions to be made on how we do that. The Eastern Bay needs representation that can effectively engage with that from day one. This isn’t really the time to bring someone in who would have to learn the ropes.

“I know the organisation, its people, and its networks across the rohe, so I can hit the ground running,” he said.

“Beyond the process-driven aspects of the job, it is my view that relationships will guide us through the particular challenges we face, and the quality and reach of my relationships across the Bay is what I bring to this mahi.”

Nominations for the by-election close at midday on Thursday, July 16. If more than one candidate stands, voter packs will be posted from August 24, with voting closing at 12pm on Friday, September 25.