'Numb with shock': Deputy mayor of Porirua dies unexpectantly
Porirua Deputy Mayor Kylie Wihapi has died unexpectedly following a fall. Mayor Anita Baker expressed deep shock and praised Wihapi's historic role as the city's first Māori ward councillor.
Why it matters
The sudden loss of a prominent local government official impacts the political landscape and community leadership of Porirua.
<p>Porirua Mayor Anita Baker has announced the sudden death of deputy mayor Kylie Wihapi.</p> <p>"I am numb with shock and disbelief at the sudden loss of Deputy Mayor, Kylie Wihapi," Baker said in a statement issued on Saturday night. "She was such a vibrant, outgoing and generous person, full of life, warmth and a deep love for all of Porirua."</p> <p>Baker told RNZ Wihapi died on Saturday morning as the result of a fall.</p> <p>"There will be more to say about Kylie’s extraordinary contribution in the days ahead," she said "But right now, my thoughts and deepest sympathies are with her whānau, especially her husband Adam, son Cooper, step-son…
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