Craig Jepson

Craig Eldon Jepson (born 1957 or 1958) is a right-wing New Zealand local politician who is the mayor of Kaipara District in New Zealand's Northland Region. During the 2000s, Jepson served as a spokesperson for Olivine NZ's unsuccessful attempt to convert the former coal-powered Meremere Power Station in the north Waikato, New Zealand into a waste-to-energy station. Jepson later moved to Mangawhai where he established a concrete business that was involved in local rural and urban development. In October 2022, Jepson was elected mayor of Kaipara. As mayor, Jepson attracted media coverage following his attempt to ban karakia (Māori prayers) from council proceedings, which he subsequently reversed following significant criticism from the public and fellow councillors. As mayor, Jepson also presided over the Kaipara District Council's withdrawal from Local Government New Zealand and decision to scrap its Māori ward without holding a referendum during the upcoming 2025 New Zealand local elections. Jepson has also questioned the consensus on climate change and expressed support for Donald Trump. In June 2025, Jepson confirmed that we would not be running for a second term as Mayor of Kaipara during the 2025 New Zealand local elections but would instead be standing as a councillor for the Kaipara District Council. During the 2025 Kaipara District Council election, Jepson was elected as a councillor to the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai ward.