Zone 4 representative/Kāpiti Coast District Council

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Sophie Handford

“This moment in time is pivotal in shaping communities we’ll feel proud to pass on to the next generation.”

In 2019, Sophie Handford founded and coordinated the School Strike 4 Climate movement, which culminated in 170,000 people mobilising for climate justice and urgent action on the climate crisis. 

It is this commitment to the planet and young people that drives her and her work. She was motivated to get involved in local government by her view that many people are not supported by the status quo.   

Sophie believes that local government has the potential to create huge, positive change for communities at the grassroots level, and that more needs to be done to humanise the sector and its connection to every individual.  

She finds the day-to-day mahi as purposeful and rewarding, but the pace of change can be frustrating. Sophie believes the sector would be more successful if sustainable funding was provided, the voting age was lowered to 16 and there were greater opportunities for deliberative democracy – where fair and reasonable discussion and debate provide the solutions for longer-term planning and visioning. 

Her rohe, the Kāpiti Coast, gets a glowing review – for its community spirit, diversity, history, culture and the stories of the people and whenua.