ACT Local has selected Dr. Nima Maleiki — a long-time Mangawhai resident, GP specialist, and community leader — as its candidate for the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward of the Kaipara District Council in this year’s local election.

Dr. Maleiki, 58, was recruited from Norway in 2016 to serve as a rural GP and now lives in Mangawhai with his wife and three young boys. A proud Persian Kiwi who speaks four languages and enjoys sharing Persian cuisine, he brings a wealth of global experience and a deep commitment to local solutions.

He has led grassroots efforts to improve Kaipara’s neglected infrastructure, including a 2022 petition with 702 signatures calling for better planning and investment in the region’s 1,140 km of unsealed roads — a long-standing safety, health, and productivity issue.

“After 10 years here, I’ve seen our community grow while council services stand still. I’m running to fix our broken roads, stop wasteful spending, and deliver the infrastructure our families, farmers, and businesses need. As a GP and founder of several medical clinics, I bring real-world problem-solving to council. ACT’s vision of freedom and responsibility inspires me to champion health, infrastructure, and economic growth — while keeping rates low and consents simple. Together, we’ll build a thriving ward for the next generation.” – Dr. Nima Maleiki

Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects.

When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting:

Fixing the basics

Cutting the waste

Ending race-based politics

Restoring accountability

ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

“ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who’ve had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It’s time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won’t divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They’re here to serve, not lecture."

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