1. Raymond Ahipene-Mercer was born on 20 October 1948 and is a former New Zealand politician, who served as a Wellington City Councillor for the Eastern Ward, only the second Maori to be elected to the Wellington City Council and the first Maori to be elected since 1962.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is a guitar-maker, musician, and well-known environmentalist, and was one of the leaders of the Clean Water Campaign, which led to the end of sewage pollution of the Wellington coast.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer was a candidate for mayor of Wellington in the council elections of 2007, the first Maori ever to contest the position.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer descends from the ancient Wellington tribes of Ngai Tara and Ngati Ira.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer's father was a guitar player and his mother a singer.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer began his music career playing in school bands in the early 1960s.
In 1964 the Beatles came to Wellington and the young Ray Ahipene-Mercer attended their concert, resolving then to immerse himself in music.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer joined the music programming section of the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation in 1967, resigning in 1969 to become a full-time musician at the age of 21.
Between 1972 and 1980 Ray Ahipene-Mercer worked in London, UK, playing in pub bands, and returned to New Zealand to tour with the Rocky Horror Show in 1978.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer returned to Wellington in 1980 as a Luthier, but has continued to play guitar both for pleasure and semi-professionally.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer 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.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer had composed and recorded music for children's stories and some films, and took part in concerts for causes such as medical aid for Iraqi children, child cancer and the Mary Potter Hospice.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is an external assessor of live music performance at Whitirea Polytech, as a member of the music advisory board.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is a member of the Board of Studies at Te Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer 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.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is well known for his work to protect and rescue little blue penguins or Korora, and arranged the construction of the first artificial nesting areas for the birds in Wellington.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer regularly speaks to groups, especially schools, about environmental issues, and includes a strong Maori perspective in these talks.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is an advocate of reforestation in Wellington City and has been an active organiser of community tree-planting events since 1990.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and he received a major conservation award in 1998.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer was elected to the Wellington City Council in a by-election in 2000, taking the Eastern Ward position previously held by Sue Kedgley, who was elected to parliament as a Green MP.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is only the second Maori to be elected to the Wellington City Council and the first Maori to be elected since 1962.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is Cultural and Arts Portfolio Leader on the Wellington City Council, a member of the Council Controlled Organisations, Strategy and Policy and Grants Committee.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer is a director of Wellington Waterfront Ltd, has been a member of the Wellington Conversation Board, and a trustee of the Joe Aspill Trust.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer has fielded some criticism from supporters for his willingness to work cooperatively with right-wing Mayor Kerry Prendergast, but announced in early 2007 his intention to oppose Prendergast in the elections to be held later that year.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer told reporters he was "in to win", and if elected would continue to work with all councillors.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer attributed his 2001 council win to votes from Pakeha as well as Maori voters who recognised that he worked for everyone, not just for Maori interests.
Ray Ahipene-Mercer announced in November 2015 that he would not contest the 2016 elections, retiring back to his work as a luthier.