Porirua Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi dies suddenly at home
Porirua Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi has died suddenly, Porirua City Council announced on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The New Zealand Herald reported that she died after a fall at home.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker said she was “numb with shock and disbelief” at the loss. “She was such a vibrant, outgoing and generous person, full of life, warmth and a deep love for all of Porirua,” Baker said. “I have lost a trusted adviser and friend, and her fellow councillors have lost a much-loved colleague.”
Wihapi was Porirua’s first elected Māori ward councillor, and she was born and raised in the city. She worked in advertising and marketing before entering local politics. She was first elected to Porirua City Council in 2016 as an Eastern Ward councillor, then won the newly created Parirua Māori Ward seat in 2022. Baker appointed her deputy mayor, succeeding Izzy Ford, and reappointed her for a second term in November last year.
She chaired the council’s District Licensing Committee and represented Porirua on regional transport, water and leadership forums. She held her seat at last year’s local election by just nine votes, with a recount confirming the result at 934 votes to 925 over her closest rival, Jess Te Huia.
Tributes came from across the Wellington region, including Wellington Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty and Labour MP Barbara Edmonds. Her death is the second sudden loss for the council this year, after fellow councillor Mike Duncan died suddenly in June.
Why it matters
Wihapi made history as Porirua’s first elected Māori ward councillor, a role that gave Māori voters in the city a direct voice on the council. Her narrow re-election showed how closely the community watched that representation. Losing a deputy mayor with a decade of service leaves a gap in experience at the top of the council.
What happens next
Baker said there would be more to say about Wihapi’s contribution in the days ahead. The council is expected to say more about how the deputy mayor role and the vacant seat will be handled.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://www.chrislynchmedia.com/news-items/numb-with-shock-porirua-deputy-mayor-kylie-wihapi-dies-suddenly/ (Chris Lynch Media, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.europesays.com/3343822/ (New Zealand Herald, via EuropeSays, 31 October 2026)
- https://livenews.co.nz/2025/11/13/kylie-wihapi-confrimed-as-porirua-maori-ward-councillor/ (Radio New Zealand, via LiveNews, 13 November 2025)
