Heather Tanguay


Heather Leigh Tanguay is a New Zealand politician. She was Mayor of Palmerston North from 2004 to 2007.

Early life and family

Tanquay was born in Napier on 17 September 1944, the daughter of Marjory and Charlie Black, and was educated at Napier Girls' High School. She married Jerry Harry Tanquay, and the couple had three children.

Political career

In the 2004 local elections, Tanguay defeated incumbent Mark Bell-Booth. At the next local elections in 2007, she was beaten by Jono Naylor with 12524 to 8088 votes. During her mayoralty, Palmerston North City Council signed the contract with Mighty River Power for the proposed Turitea Wind Farm. She served a total of twelve years for Palmerston North City Council. She considered contesting the 2010 mayoralty, but did not put her name forward in the end.

Other activities

In 1987, Tanguay was appointed a justice of the peace. She was a trustee of the Charities Commission from 2004 to 2009, and is a trustee of the Manawatū section of the Te Araroa Trail. As of 2010, she was employed by the Department of Internal Affairs.

Honours and awards

In 1990, Tanguay was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. She was the recipient of a 2009 Harmony Award by Islam Awareness for her longstanding support of the Manawatu Muslim community.