Kathleen Filo - Bringing Community Voices to the Council Table
Kathleen Filo (née Kelly) (Ngāti Toa Rangatira and Ngāti Tama) is the daughter of Liz (née Modlik) and Pat Kelly, and the granddaughter of Haneta (née Arthur) and Helmut Modlik. She is married to Stu Filo, and together they have three tamariki, Rielly, Kennedy, and Kharrington.
Kathleen is currently serving her second term as Councillor for the Onepoto General Ward in Porirua and is passionate about ensuring community voices are heard and reflected in council decision-making. For Kathleen, having Ngāti Toa and Māori voices around the council table matters. Decisions made by local government affect everything from our waterways and housing to transport, recreation, and places our whānau live. Having people who understand our communities helps ensure those perspectives are part of the conversation.
One of Kathleen's proudest achievements has been her advocacy for the upgrade of the Rukutane Point Pump Station in Titahi Bay. For many years, the ageing wastewater pump station had been a significant concern due to capacity limitations and equipment failures. During periods of heavy rainfall, incoming flows would exceed the station's capacity, resulting in wastewater overflows entering the marine environment.
Recognising the environmental and public health risks, Kathleen worked alongside iwi, resident groups, surfers, local schools, and community members to ensure their concerns were heard. After several attempts to secure funding, a successful amendment hearing brought together a wide cross-section of the community, demonstrating the power of collective voices. As a result, councillors approved the inclusion of the pump station upgrade in the Long-Term Plan, ensuring this critical infrastructure project could move forward. For Kathleen, the outcome reinforced the importance of having elected representatives who listen, advocate, and are prepared to speak on behalf of their communities. She believes that when people are given genuine opportunities to contribute, they often bring practical solutions and valuable insights that can help shape better decisions.
Affordability remains another key focus for Kathleen. She has consistently advocated for responsible financial management and has supported efforts to minimise the burden on ratepayers wherever possible.
As local government continues to navigate significant reforms, including the transition of water services to Tiaki Wai and discussions around council amalgamation, Kathleen says balancing affordability with long-term financial sustainability remains a constant consideration. The role hasn’t always been easy. Balancing council responsibilities with whānau life, reading hundreds of pages of reports, attending evening community meetings and events, and making decisions that won’t always please everyone are all part of the job. Despite the challenges, Kathleen says the opportunity to make a positive difference for future generations makes it worthwhile.
Looking ahead, one of the biggest challenges she sees is the pace of change facing local government and ensuring communities are engaged early in the decision-making process rather than being consulted after decisions have effectively been made. She believes residents deserve transparency, meaningful participation, and opportunities to influence the future of their city. Kathleen says the success of the Rukutane Pump Station upgrade demonstrates what can be achieved when whānau, iwi, community groups and elected members work together toward a common goal.
With the general election approaching and local government elections in 2028, Kathleen hopes stories like hers encourage more whānau to think about how they can contribute to shaping the future of their communities, whether by standing for election, voting, or becoming involved in local decision-making. Kathleen finishes by saying that, "our communities are full of intelligent, passionate people with ideas that can make a real difference. When their voices come together, they can create powerful and lasting change.”