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381:, have been a particular target of Ahipene-Mercer's attention, and as an honorary fisheries ranger he has seized and returned many thousands of illegal paua to the sea. He regularly speaks to groups, especially schools, about environmental issues, and includes a strong Maori perspective in these talks. He is an advocate of reforestation in Wellington City and has been an active organiser of community tree-planting events since 1990. He has sought to reintroduce a number of Maori names to Wellington, such as Te Tangihanga-a-Kupe, for the rocks known also as
411:
339:. He returned to Wellington in 1980 as a Luthier, but has continued to play guitar both for pleasure and semi-professionally. He organised and performed in "Rock against Racism" concerts in Wellington in the early 1980s and worked with other bands such as the Wayne Mason band and Blue Highways. He had composed and recorded music for children's stories and some films, and took part in concerts for causes such as medical aid for
33:
457:
He is
Cultural and Arts Portfolio Leader on the Wellington City Council, a member of the Council Controlled Organisations, Strategy and Policy and Grants Committee. He is a director of Wellington Waterfront Ltd, has been a member of the Wellington Conversation Board, and a trustee of the Joe Aspill
176:
of the
Wellington coast. He was a candidate for mayor of Wellington in the council elections of 2007, the first Māori ever to contest the position.He was runner-up to the incumbent. As a musician and guitar maker he usually uses the name Ray Mercer, and has used the name Ray Ahipene-Mercer for other
319:
in 1967, resigning in 1969 to become a full-time musician at the age of 21. As Ray Mercer he played lead guitar with The
Dedikation, which successfully recorded three singles and an album. They were number two on the New Zealand Hit Parade in 1969 with their first single, "Wait for me Maryanne", a
453:
reported that in 2001 he was one of only 20 Maori, out of a total of over a thousand New
Zealanders, to win office in local elections that October. He is only the second Maori to be elected to the Wellington City Council and the first Maori to be elected since 1962.
461:
Initially regarded as part of the "left" group on
Council, Ahipene-Mercer has avoided alignment with any faction, preferring to work across all groups. He has fielded some criticism from supporters for his willingness to work cooperatively with right-wing Mayor
466:, but announced in early 2007 his intention to oppose Prendergast in the elections to be held later that year. He told reporters he was "in to win", and if elected would continue to work with all councillors.He was runner-up in the election.
473:(non-Māori) as well as Māori voters who recognised that he worked for everyone, not just for Māori interests. He does not believe in designated Māori seats on either the national and local level, and hence emphasizes the importance of
477:
education so that Pākehā are well-informed about and responsive to Māori issues. He announced in
November 2015 that he would not contest the 2016 elections, retiring back to his work as a luthier.
551:
343:
children, child cancer and the Mary Potter
Hospice. He claims to have played in every hall in Wellington. Ahipene-Mercer is an external assessor of live music performance at
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441:
Ahipene-Mercer's work on environmental issues often brought him into regular contact with the
Wellington City Council. He was elected to the Wellington City Council in a
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He has the unusual status as the only City
Councillor ever to perform in the Wellington International Festival of the Arts as part of the "Maori All Stars" in 2006.
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came to
Wellington and the young Ahipene-Mercer attended their concert, resolving then to immerse himself in music. He joined the music programming section of the
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Ahipene-Mercer's father was a guitar player and his mother a singer. He began his music career playing in school bands in the early 1960s. In 1964
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Ahipene Mercer's mother, Ramona Ahipene, married Eugene (Gene) Mercer, a seaman of mixed Welsh and Swedish ancestry who arrived in New Zealand after
366:, led the Wellington Clean Water Campaign, which successfully sought to have Wellington to treat its sewage, and stop dumping it, raw, in the sea.
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to be elected to the Wellington City Council and the first Māori to be elected since 1962. He is also a guitar-maker, musician, and well-known
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Between 1972 and 1980 Ahipene-Mercer worked in London, UK, playing in pub bands, and returned to New Zealand to tour with the
882:
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Marae, the people of his maternal grandmother. His mother's father, from whom the name "Ahipene" was passed down, was of the
209:. Direct ancestors were members of the Ngati Ira people displaced after conflict in the Wellington area in the 1820s to the
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Mawai Hakona group. The whole family was closely associated with the urban Orongomai Marae. Eugene Mercer was a staunch
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cover of a 1968 song by Marmalade, and reached number 12 on the national charts with their 1970 cover of the
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in 1978. By that time, he had begun training in making guitars, with the aim of becoming a full-time
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names of flora and fauna for use by sanctuary volunteers and members. Ahipene-Mercer was awarded the
549:"Local Government Representative: Kanohi Kāwanatanga a-Rohe – Ray Ahipene-Mercer, City Councillor".
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324:' "Ruby Tuesday." Dedikation appeared on the famous "C'mon" TV series, and were finalists in the
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Oral history interview with Ray Ahipene-Mercer on Upper Hutt City Library's Recollect website
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Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.
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449:, who was elected to parliament as a Green MP. He was elected again in 2001 and 2004.
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978:"Ray Ahipene-Mercer leaving Wellington politics for blues and crafting guitars"
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New Zealand Music of the 60's, 70's and a bit of 80's. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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descent. This grandfather was also of Scots descent, through James Wybrow, a
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in the UK they returned to New Zealand, where Chris died, suddenly, in 1981.
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Press release. Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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He is well known for his work to protect and rescue little blue penguins or
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Ahipene-Mercer married Christine (Chris) Viggars in 1972. After an extended
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Described as a "tireless environmental campaigner" by former Mayor
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Career Services/Rapuara: Seek the Path. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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Ahipene-Mercer attributed his 2001 council win to votes from
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in 2000, taking the Eastern Ward position previously held by
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The Edge of Tangaroa's Domain Dominion Post 4 September 2003
256:. Both parents were both active members of the celebrated
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descent. He descends from the ancient Wellington tribes of
858:. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 42.
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purposes including his environmental work and politics.
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Website of Ray Ahipene-Mercer's Mayoral campaign 2007
397:, and he received a major conservation award in 1998.
592:"Elections - 2007 Results - Wellington - New Zealand"
569:"Ray Ahipene-Mercer: 'I am your mayoral candidate.'"
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Māori club in Wellington City, and later the famous
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Musician, guitar-maker, environmentalist, politician
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Wellington Waterfront Ltd. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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213:. Ahipene Mercer's closest Māori links now are at
880:"Kedgley delighted at Ahipene-Mercer's election."
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743:"Dolphins perform for penguin palace builders."
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45:Wellington City Councillor for the Eastern Ward
947:Mana News Update 303. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
385:, and Tarakena Bay, and in 1996–1997 assisted
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527:"Councillor's journey from pop to politics."
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929:Wellington.govt.nz. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
909:Wellington.govt.nz. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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578:CNews. cnews.co.nz. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
507:wellington.govt.nz. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
1040:Wellington City Councillor for Eastern Ward
1021:
755:, issue 17, p. 2. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
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824:Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Trust. (1997).
920:"Eastern Ward." (2004 election results.)
567:Community News Limited. (7 March 2007).
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943:Mana News Service. (1 November 2001).
714:: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
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237:. There is a strong family link with
161:for the Eastern Ward, only the second
1096:People educated at Upper Hutt College
7:
1017:Wellington Election Results for 2007
779:"Community service for paua poacher"
741:Wellington Conservancy. (2002–05). (
646:Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
395:New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
354:Community activist, environmentalist
317:New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation
122:Christine (Chris) Viggars (deceased)
856:Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand
291:, and attended Trentham School and
153:(born 20 October 1948) is a former
900:"Election Results – 2001 Results."
815:, 10 Aug 1998, edition 3, page 13.
498:"Councillor – Ray Ahipene-Mercer."
14:
976:Jackman, Amy (27 November 2015).
732:, 4 Mar 2006, edition 2, page 14.
768:, 7 Aug 1998, edition 2, page 3.
624:, 3 May 2000, edition 3, page 5.
531:, 5 May 2000, edition 3, page 8.
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1:
1091:New Zealand environmentalists
389:in creating an audio tape of
283:Ahipene-Mercer was raised in
225:, tribe from the area around
878:Kedgley, Sue. (3 May 2000).
547:Career Services. (ca. 2003,
157:politician, who served as a
1101:Wellington City Councillors
307:Ahipene-Mercer at his home.
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159:Wellington City Councillor
1086:Musicians from Wellington
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925:27 September 2007 at the
918:Wellington City Council.
898:Wellington City Council.
885:26 September 2007 at the
832:29 September 2007 at the
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496:Wellington City Council.
418:This section needs to be
387:Karori Wildlife Sanctuary
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837:Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
648:Retrieved on 2007-06-18.
279:Early life and education
662:Sergent, Bruce. (n.d.)
362:, Ahipene-Mercer, with
1076:People from Upper Hutt
905:1 October 2006 at the
784:Television New Zealand
728:"It's showband time."
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151:Raymond Ahipene-Mercer
16:New Zealand politician
764:"Penguin protector."
574:16 March 2007 at the
554:27 September 2007 at
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185:Ahipene-Mercer is of
962:24 June 2007 at the
945:"Ray Ahipene-Mercer"
669:26 June 2007 at the
1049:Chris Calvi-Freeman
852:Coddington, Deborah
827:Annual Report 1997.
598:on 6 September 2008
273:overseas experience
79:Chris Calvi-Freeman
1025:Political offices
326:Loxene Golden Disc
309:
293:Upper Hutt College
131:Upper Hutt College
25:Ray Ahipene-Mercer
1081:Māori politicians
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1047:Succeeded by
791:. 27 January 2005
789:Radio New Zealand
766:The Dominion Post
730:The Dominion Post
464:Kerry Prendergast
451:Mana News Service
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377:, or New Zealand
345:Whitirea Polytech
333:Rocky Horror Show
181:Family background
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258:Ngati Poneke
254:World War II
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247:South Island
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75:Succeeded by
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1066:1948 births
1033:Sue Kedgley
987:20 November
602:10 February
447:Sue Kedgley
443:by-election
313:the Beatles
262:Hutt Valley
155:New Zealand
113:New Zealand
68:Sue Kedgley
63:Preceded by
1060:Categories
1044:2000–2016
795:4 November
481:References
401:Politician
289:Upper Hutt
241:, between
227:Porangahau
137:Occupation
109:Wellington
99:1948-10-20
753:Footnotes
231:Ngāi Tahu
211:Wairarapa
207:Ngati Ira
203:Ngai Tara
174:pollution
127:Education
57:2000–2016
53:In office
960:Archived
923:Archived
903:Archived
883:Archived
854:(1994).
830:Archived
746:Archived
710:cite web
667:Archived
572:Archived
552:Archived
501:Archived
328:awards.
299:Musician
245:and the
700:17 July
458:Trust.
420:updated
379:abalone
337:Luthier
219:Kohunui
215:Pirinoa
195:Swedish
862:
475:Treaty
471:Pākehā
371:Korora
285:Petone
235:whaler
217:, and
197:, and
171:sewage
119:Spouse
982:Stuff
694:(PDF)
687:(PDF)
391:Māori
341:Iraqi
199:Scots
191:Welsh
187:Māori
163:Māori
989:2022
860:ISBN
797:2011
716:link
702:2007
604:2008
375:pāua
287:and
205:and
93:Born
1062::
980:.
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
