Josephine Ruth Bartley is Samoan, her mother is Ruth née Burke from the village of Sinamoga and her father is Eddie from Tapatapao. She has three brothers and was raised in Ellerslie before the family moved to Mangere where they lived for 27years. 

She’s now in Panmure where she represents the area of Maungakiekie Tamaki in the Auckland City Council.  Josephine Bartley was the first Pacific Island woman to be voted on Auckland’s Super City Board back in 2018.

Now she can add ‘stand-up comedian’ to her list of achievements. After entering Raw Comedy Quest thinking it was just an open mic session, the Auckland City Councilor has made it into New Zealand’s Grand Final.