Michael Darren Tana (born ) is a New Zealand politician and trade union leader. He was mayor of Porirua from 2016 to 2019.

Early life

Tana is from

Matakohe Matakohe is a settlement in Northland, New Zealand. The Matakohe River is a short river which runs from the north into the Arapaoa River, which is part of the Kaipara Harbour. State Highway 12 passes through Matakohe. Ruawai is 16 km to ...

, near Ruawai in the Northland region. His iwi are

Ngāti Whātua Ngāti Whātua is a Māori iwi (tribe) of the lower Northland Peninsula of New Zealand's North Island. It comprises a confederation of four hapū (subtribes) interconnected both by ancestry and by association over time: Te Uri-o-Hau, Te Roroa, Te ...

and

Ngāpuhi Ngāpuhi (or Ngā Puhi) is a Māori iwi associated with the Northland region of New Zealand and centred in the Hokianga, the Bay of Islands, and Whangārei. According to the 2018 New Zealand census, the estimated population of Ngāpuhi is 165, ...

. He has an agricultural science degree from

Massey University Massey University ( mi, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa) is a university based in Palmerston North, New Zealand, with significant campuses in Albany and Wellington. Massey University has approximately 30,883 students, 13,796 of whom are extramural or ...

Career

He has been senior biosecurity adviser at the Ministry for Primary Industries, and the president of the 62,000-strong

Public Service Association The Public Service Association ( mi, Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi) or PSA is a democratic trade union that represents over workers in the Aotearoa New Zealand public sector. The aims of the PSA are: * strong public and community services * ...

Career in politics

He announced in August 2016 that he would be running for Mayor of Porirua and he ran a poorly-funded campaign. Tana won the mayoral election, receiving 5,887 votes (after other candidates were eliminated on the STV ballot). He is the first Maori mayor of Porirua, and one of only a small number of Maori mayors in New Zealand history. Tana grew up experiencing racism, and when he was elected Mayor he joined Porirua City up to an anti-racism campaign.

Personal life

Tana has six children with his wife Toni.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tana, Mike Year of birth missing (living people) 1960s births Living people Ngāpuhi people Ngāti Whātua people Māori mayors Mayors of Porirua Massey University alumni People from the Northland Region New Zealand trade union leaders 21st-century New Zealand politicians