Annette Kay Main ONZM (born 1951/1952) is a New Zealand local-body politician. She served as mayor of Whanganui from 2010 to 2016, and was the first woman to hold that office.

Annette Main
Main in 2017
27th Mayor of Wanganui
In office
2010–2016
Preceded byMichael Laws
Succeeded byHamish McDouall
Personal details
BornCastlecliff, Whanganui, New Zealand

Early life and family

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Main was born in Castlecliff in Whanganui and attended Castlecliff School and Whanganui High School.[1] She trained as a teacher, before becoming a parent.[2] She worked for New Zealand Post in their public relations department, for the Whanganui District Council as a tourism officer, and then ran a tourism business.[2]

Political career

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In 1998 main was elected to the Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council, where she served for 12 years. During that time she chaired the environment committee and served as deputy chair.[2]

In 2010 she was elected mayor of Whanganui, becoming the first woman to hold the position.[3] She was re-elected in 2013. As mayor, she supported the New Zealand Geographic board's decision to change the town's name to include an "h".[4] She did not stand for re-election in 2016, instead successfully pursuing a seat on the Whanganui District Health Board.[5]

Main was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to local government, in the 2017 New Year Honours.[6][7] In 2018 she was appointed to the council of the Universal College of Learning.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Annette Main – the people's mayor" (PDF). Wanganui Matters. No. 3. Whanganui. August 2011. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Annette Main: Mayor, Whanganui". Ministry for Women. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Wanganui Elects First Woman Mayor". Wanganui Chronicle. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  4. ^ Wepiha Te Kanawa (4 December 2014). "Whanganui or Wanganui?". Maori Television. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ^ "'Passionate advocate' for city standing for DHB". Whanganui Chronicle. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Queen's honour for former Whanganui Mayor". Whanganui Chronicle. 30 December 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Former mayor Annette Main follows father's footsteps". Whanganui Chronicle. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Former Whanganui mayor Annette Main appointed as a member of UCOL council". Whanganui Chronicle. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.