Social Media: The Double Edged Sword

Session Outline:

Discover how to leverage social media for local government elections while protecting your privacy and wellbeing. This webinar explores strategies to amplify your message, connect authentically with your community, and maintain balance in a digital-first world. Learn to navigate the challenges and opportunities of social media to create meaningful impact. Join us to turn this powerful tool into a force for positive change.

These were your speakers:

Tory Whanau

Tory is Pōneke's first Mayor of Māori descent. Hailing from Pātea in South Taranaki, with whakapapa to Pakakohi and Ngā Ruahine, she's had a diverse career – from marketing and film censorship to chief of staff for the Green Party.

Now she's leading the charge for change in Wellington. Her priorities: more affordable housing, better public transport, and creating more spaces for walking and cycling. "My dedication to Wellington comes from growing up here and creating the best city for the next generation. I ran for Mayor because I truly believe I can make a positive difference in the lives of Wellingtonians." She's focused on strengthening relationships with mana whenua and celebrating the city's diverse communities. Tory is a champion for Wellington's vibrant arts scene, hospitality industry, and creative sector, recognising their importance to the city's character. She's also committed to accelerating climate action and building a more resilient city.

Tory's vision? Driving a creative capital city where people and nature thrive. A Wellington known for its arts, education, innovation, and compassion – a city where everyone feels at home. She shares her life with Teddy "His Woofship."

Louise Hutt

Louise Hutt is a current Hamilton City councillor and chairs the Regulatory & Hearings Committee, the Climate Advisory Panel, and holds the portfolios for disability and older people. They're also the chairperson of the largest sustainability and environmental organisation in the Waikato, Go Eco. Before being elected, they were a senior advisor and manager at the Waikato District Health Board, and worked in the not-for-profit sector in comms and community engagement.

They're passionate about social and climate justice, honouring Te Tiriti, public health, transport, art, and technology.

Sophie McInnes
Sophie McInnes is a second-term Selwyn district councillor, representing rapidly-growing Rolleston. Prior to running for election, she was a PA/EA in both the public and private sector, realising that she needed something different during a prolonged period of parental leave full of volunteering and advocacy. Alongside her council responsibilities, she recently completed a Masters degree in environmental policy from Lincoln University, seeking to do better by future generations by knowing what questions to ask today. Sophie grew up in the UK, moving to NZ in 2010 with her Kiwi husband and eldest child, now joined by twins and pets.

Lan Pham

Lan was elected to parliament in 2023 as the first MP of Vietnamese heritage and is the Green Party spokesperson for Environment. Her background is in Freshwater Ecology where it was Aotearoa’s quirky endangered native fish that first got her involved in intergenerational issues like freshwater pollution and climate change. Over the last 15 years Lan has worked with community groups, schools, farmers, rūnanga and government agencies across Murihiku Southland, Ōtākou Otago and Waitaha Canterbury on grass-roots freshwater restoration projects as a freshwater ranger for DOC and as founder and trustee of Working Waters Trust. Lan served 2 terms in Local Government as a Regional Councillor on Environment Canterbury from 2016 - 2022 where she championed action for nature, climate and people. She was an RMA Commissioner, appointed as a Freshwater Commissioner and a Senior Environmental Advisor for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, before resigning to return to a political role.

Watch the webinar recording here: