2022 New Zealand local elections

2022 New Zealand local elections

←  2019 8 October 2022 2025 →
699 local councillors, 558 community board members, 139 local board members, 127 regional councillors, 74 licensing trustees, 66 mayors, 1 local referendum, and 28 other local members
Map indicating success of incumbent mayors

The 2022 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections held in New Zealand on Saturday 8 October 2022. Voting began by postal vote on 16 September and ended at noon on 8 October 2022. ^[1]

The national voter turnout for the 2022 local elections was a record low 36 percent. ^[2]

Election schedule

Key dates relating to the general election were as follows: ^[3]

30 June	Electoral Commission enrolment campaign starts.
First week of July	Enrolment update packs sent by Electoral Commission to electors.
12 August	Enrolment closes for the printed electoral roll.
16–21 September	Voting documents sent to all enrolled voters by local councils.
4 October	Last day to post ballot to ensure delivery.
7 October	Last day to enrol to vote.
8 October	Polling day — The voting documents must be at the council before voting closes at midday/12:00pm. Preliminary results to be released as soon as readily available afterwards.

Issues

Low candidate numbers

In early August 2022, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and several local councils including Central Otago District Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Hastings District Council, Mackenzie District Council, Nelson City Council, Otago Regional Council, Environment Southland, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Rangitikei District Council, South Waikato District Council, and Rotorua Lakes Council expressed concern about the low number of candidates standing for wards, council seats, and mayoral offices. For example, the Mackenzie District Council reported only three nominations for a total of 19 vacancies. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

LGNZ President Stuart Crosby attributed the low number of candidates to several factors including abusive rhetoric directed against electoral officials on issues such as the Three Waters reform programme and resource management reform, and low remuneration rates which disadvantaged candidates from young and diverse communities in rural and provincial areas. Local government consultant Peter McKinlay identified central government pressure on local councils, compliance requirements, and changes to governing arrangements since the 1980s as factors discouraging people from standing for local government positions. ^[5]

Low voter turnout

The 2022 local elections reported a record low voter turnout across the country. By 28 September, Auckland had reported a voter turnout of 8.8%, 10.9% in Christchurch, 4.9% in Wellington, 3.9% in Taupō, and 19.8% in the Westland District. ^[7] Low voter turnout was also reported in other urban centres and regions including Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Rotorua, Queenstown, the Northland Region, South Canterbury, and the New Plymouth District. ^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} Auckland University of Technology political scientist Julienne Molineaux attributed the low voter turnout to public interest in the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the long weekend, a long voting period, and public disengagement with postal voting due to insufficient posting infrastructure. ^[7] In response to low voter turnout, Auckland mayoral candidates Efeso Collins and Wayne Brown advocated scrapping the postal voter system in favour of online voting. ^[12]

In late September 2022, Radio New Zealand and The Spinoff reported that several voters including Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta were experiencing delays in receiving their postal ballot papers. ^{[13] [14]} According to Radio New Zealand, most local councils hired private companies to manage their elections. One Northland electoral official advocated transferring management of local elections to the Electoral Commission, which manages the triennial general elections. ^[13]

By 9 October, The New Zealand Herald reported that the national voter turnout for the 2022 local elections was a record low 36 percent. Voter turnout in local body elections had declined in New Zealand over the past 25 years since 1989, which recorded a national voter turnout of 57%. In response, Local Government New Zealand President Stuart Crosby, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and National Party leader Christopher Luxon called for an independent review and urgent reform to the voting system for local elections. ^[15]

On 28 October, the Future for Local Government group advocated several recommendations aimed at improving voter turnout at future local body elections including lowering the voting age to 16 years old, four-year terms, raising salaries for elected local officials, implementing the single transferable voting system nationwide, and improving engagement with the public particularly Māori voters. ^[16]

Entryism

In mid–August 2022, Stuff and the Guardian Australia reported that the anti-vaccination group Voices for Freedom (VFF) had encouraged its members to contest the 2022 local elections with the intention of infiltrating local government bodies in order to make New Zealand "ungovernable" at the local government level. VFF candidates were instructed to conceal their affiliation with the group when running as candidates. Victoria University of Wellington political scientist Dr Mona Krewel expressed concern that VFF candidates could be elected due to the low number of candidates and possible low voter turnout. ^{[17] [18]}

Notable VFF-affiliated candidates have included Teviot Valley Community Board candidate Gill Booth, Southland dairy farmer Jaspreet Bopara, Dunedin coordinators Watson and Tracey Pita, Christchurch City Council candidates Sally Cogle and Mike Wilson, VFF head of national operations and New Plymouth District Council candidate Tane Webster, Nelson City Council candidate Zoe Byrne, Whangārei District Council candidate Tracy Thomasson, and Tasman District Council candidate James Wolfen Duvall. ^{[17] [19] [18] [20] [21] [22] [23]}

In early September 2022, Local Government NZ launched a campaign to help voters identify conspiracy theorists and extremists running for local government positions. Anti-misinformation group FACT Aotearoa had identified 170 candidates with extremist views or who were associated with anti-vaccination or anti-government groups. Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies director Dr William Hoverd attributed the surge in "extremist" candidates to the occupation of the New Zealand Parliament's grounds during the 2022 Wellington protest, which in his view "had unified and galvanised groups with little in common other than their dissatisfaction with the Government." ^[24]

Following the release of preliminary local election results on 8 October, Stuff reported that fewer than twelve Voices of Freedom–affiliated candidates had been elected to local government positions. The VFF had fielded over 200 candidates who were contesting 159 races. Notable successful pro-VFF candidates have included Southland District Council member Jaspreet Bosparai, Teviot Community Board member Gill Booth, Deputy Mayor of Whanganui Jenny Duncan, Paraparaumu/Raumati Community board member Jonny Best, Waikato Regional Council member Clyde Graf, Selwyn District Council member Elizabeth Mundt, Hibiscus and Bays Local Board member Leanne Willis, Oraka Aparima community board member Emma Gould, and Taupo District Council member Duncan Campbell. In addition, several incumbent councillors who had expressed support for VFF's views including Carterton District Council member Jill Greathead and Gisborne District Council member Meredith Akuhata-Brown were defeated. ^[25]

Three Waters reform programme

Following the conclusion of the local elections in early October 2022, surveys conducted by the online media organisations Newsroom and The Spinoff found that a majority of elected mayors opposed the Government's Three Waters reform programme, a national water infrastructure programme that would take management of water assets and services away from local government bodies. While Newsroom's survey of 220 newly-elected mayors and councillors found that 76% of respondents of 220 newly-elected mayors and councillors surveyed opposed the Three Water reforms, the Spinoff found that 43 of the 66 elected mayors surveyed opposed the reforms. ^{[26] [27]} Several newly-elected mayors including Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown, Mayor of Invercargill Nobby Clark and Mayor of Nelson Nick Smith had campaigned against Three Waters during their mayoral races. ^{[28] [29] [30]}

Vandalism

In mid August 2022, the Manawatu Standard reported that several hoardings featuring Labour candidates in Palmerston North including Lorna Johnson and Zulfiqar Butt had been vandalised. The Labour candidates lodged complaints with the Police. ^[31]

In September 2022, there were reports of billboards and hoardings featuring Asian and Pasifika candidates being vandalised in the Auckland Region. ^{[32] [33] [34]} The targeting of ethnic minority candidates' hoardings was condemned by Mayor of Auckland Phil Goff and Samoan New Zealander mayoral candidates Efeso Collins and Ted Johnston. ^{[33] [34]}

In mid September 2022, Stuff reported that hoardings featuring Nelson City Council Māori ward candidate Bernie Goldsmith were stolen, which the media company attributed to opposition to the Council's decision to adopt a Māori ward. In addition, hoardings featuring mayoral candidates Matt Lawrey and former National Party Member of Parliament Nick Smith were vandalised. ^[35]

Elections

Unitary authorities

Unitary authorities are local government entities that have the powers of both a territorial authority and those of a regional council. There are currently five unitary authorities.

The Chatham Islands have a unique, separately-legislated council that has almost all the powers of a unitary authority.

Council	Seats [lower-alpha 1]	Control				Incumbents returned	Details
		Previous		Result
Auckland	21		No overall control		No overall control	13 / 21	Details
Gisborne	14		Independents		Independents	6 / 14
Nelson	13		Independents		Independents	6 / 13
Tasman	14		Independents		Independents	10 / 14
Marlborough	15		Independents		Independents	7 / 14
Chatham Islands	9		Independents		Independents	8 / 9
All 5 councils	72

Regional councils

The regions of New Zealand are governed by regional councils as the first tier of local government.

Council	Seats	Control				Incumbents returned	Details
		Previous		Result
Northland	9		Independents		Independents	4 / 9	Details
Waikato	14		Independents		Independents	6 / 14	Details
Bay of Plenty	14		Independents		Independents	9 / 14	Details
Hawke's Bay	11		Independents		Independents	6 / 9	Details
Taranaki	11		Independents		Independents	7 / 11	Details
Manawatū-Whanganui	14		Independents		Independents	10 / 12	Details
Wellington	13		No overall control		No overall control	8 / 13	Details
West Coast	7		Independents		Independents	3 / 7	Details
Canterbury	14		Independents		Independents	7 / 14	Details
Otago	12		Independents		Independents	6 / 12	Details
Southland	12		Independents		Independents	7 / 12	Details
All 11 councils	130

Territorial authorities

The various urban, suburban, and rural districts of New Zealand are governed by territorial authorities as the second tier of local government.

Council	Seats [lower-alpha 1]	Control				Incumbents returned	Details
		Previous		Result
Far North District	11		Independents		Independents	4 / 9
Whangarei District	14		Independents		Independents	8 / 14
Kaipara District	10		Independents		Independents	3 / 9
Thames-Coromandel District	10		Independents		Independents	5 / 9
Hauraki District	14		Independents		Independents	7 / 14
Waikato District	14		Independents		Independents	4 / 14
Matamata-Piako District	13		Independents		Independents	7 / 12
Hamilton City	13		Independents		Independents	8 / 13
Waipā District	12		Independents		Independents	10 / 13
Ōtorohanga District	10		Independents		Independents	6 / 8
South Waikato District	11		Independents		Independents	6 / 11
Waitomo District	7		Independents		Independents	3 / 7
Taupō District	13		Independents		Independents	8 / 12
Western Bay of Plenty District	12		Independents		Independents	8 / 12
Tauranga City	11	no election held
Rotorua Lakes District	11		Independents		Independents	4 / 11
Whakatāne District	11		Independents		Independents	8 / 11
Kawerau District	9		Independents		Independents	6 / 9
Ōpōtiki District	7		Independents		Independents	4 / 7
Wairoa District	7		Independents		Independents	5 / 7	Details
Hastings District	15		Independents		Independents	10 / 15	Details
Napier City	13		Independents		Independents	11 / 13	Details
Central Hawke's Bay District	9		Independents		Independents	9 / 9	Details
New Plymouth District	15		Independents		Independents	11 / 15
Stratford District	11		Independents		Independents	7 / 11
South Taranaki District	13		Independents		Independents	10 / 13
Ruapehu District	12					0 / 1
Whanganui District	13					0 / 1
Rangitikei District	12					0 / 1
Manawatū District	11					0 / 1
Palmerston North Cit y	16					0 / 1
Tararua District	9					0 / 1
Horowhenua District	12					0 / 1
Kāpiti Coast District	11					0 / 1	Details
Porirua City	11					0 / 1	Details
Upper Hutt City	11					0 / 1	Details
Hutt City	13					0 / 1	Details
Wellington City	15					0 / 1	Details
Masterton District	11					0 / 1	Details
Carterton District	9					0 / 1	Details
South Wairarapa District	10					0 / 1	Details
Buller District	11					0 / 1
Grey District	9					0 / 1
Westland District	9					0 / 1
Kaikōura District	8					0 / 1
Hurunui District	10					0 / 1
Waimakariri District	11					0 / 1
Christchurch City	17					0 / 1	Details
Selwyn District	12					0 / 1
Ashburton District	13					0 / 1
Timaru District	10					0 / 1
Mackenzie District	7					0 / 1
Waimate District	9					0 / 1
Waitaki District	11					0 / 1
Central Otago District	11					0 / 1
Queenstown-Lakes District	11					0 / 1
Dunedin City	15					0 / 1	Details
Clutha District	15					0 / 1
Southland District	13					0 / 1
Gore District	12					0 / 1
Invercargill City	13					0 / 1
All 62 councils	688

Local boards

After the conglomeration of the various councils situated within the Auckland Region, local boards were created to deal with more local issues.

Local Board	Seats	Control				Incumbents returned	Details
		Previous		Result
Albert-Eden	8		Split – C&R & City Vision		Split – C&R & City Vision	4 / 8	Details
Aotea-Great Barrier	5		Independents		Independents	3 / 5	Details
Devonport-Takapuna	6		No overall control		A Fresh Approach	2 / 6	Details
Franklin	9		Team Franklin		Team Franklin	6 / 9	Details
Henderson-Massey	8		Split – Labour & Independents		Labour	5 / 8	Details
Hibiscus and Bays	8		No overall control		No overall control	5 / 8	Details
Howick	9		No overall control		No overall control	7 / 9	Details
Kaipātiki	8		Shore Action		Shore Action	5 / 8	Details
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu	7		Labour		Labour	4 / 7	Details
Manurewa	8		Manurewa Action Team		Manurewa Action Team	4 / 8	Details
Maungakiekie-Tāmaki	7		Labour		Labour	7 / 7	Details
Ōrākei	7		Communities and Residents		Communities and Residents	5 / 7	Details
Ōtara-Papatoetoe	7		Labour		Labour	4 / 7	Details
Papakura	6		Papakura Action Team		Papakura Action Team	4 / 6	Details
Puketāpapa	6		Roskill Community Voice		Communities and Residents	4 / 6	Details
Rodney	9		Rodney First		Rodney First	2 / 8	Details
Upper Harbour	6		Independents		Split – Living Upper Harbour & Independents	2 / 6	Details
Waiheke	5		Independents		Independents	4 / 5	Details
Waitākere Ranges	6		Future West		Future West	4 / 6	Details
Waitematā	7		City Vision		Communities and Residents	3 / 7	Details
Whau	7		Labour		Labour	5 / 7	Details
All 21 local boards	149

Community boards

North Island

Council	Community Board	Seats [lower-alpha 2]	Control				Incumbents returned	Details
			Previous		Result
Far North	Bay of Islands-Whangaroa	7		Independents		Independents	3 / 7
	Kaikohe-Hokianga	6		Independents		Independents	6 / 6
	Te Hiku	6		Independents		Independents	6 / 6
Thames-Coromandel	Coromandel-Colville	4		Independents		Independents	2 / 4
	Mercury Bay	4		Independents		Independents	0 / 4
	Tairua-Pāuanui	4		Independents		Independents	3 / 4
	Thames	4		Independents		Independents	0 / 4
	Whangamatā	4		Independents		Independents	1 / 4
Waikato	Huntly
	Ngāruawāhia
	Tuakau
	Raglan
	Taupiri
	Rural & Port Waikato
Waipā	Cambridge	5		Independents		Independents	5 / 5
	Te Awamutu-Kihikihi	5		Independents		Independents	5 / 5
Ōtorohanga	Ōtorohanga	4		Independents		Independents	2 / 4
	Kāwhia	4		Independents		Independents	4 / 4
South Waikato	Tīrau
Western Bay of Plenty	Katikati	4		Independents		Independents	1 / 4
	Maketu	4		Independents		Independents	1 / 4
	Ōmokoroa	4		Independents		Independents	1 / 4
	Te Puke	4		Independents		Independents	2 / 4
	Waihī Beach	4		Independents		Independents	1 / 4
Whakatāne	Whakatāne-Ōhope
	Tāneatua
	Rangitaiki
	Murupara
Rotorua Lakes	Rotorua Lakes
	Rotorua Rural
Ōpōtiki	Coast
Taupō	Turangi-Tongariro
Ruapehu	Ōwhango-National Park
	Waimarino-Waiouru
	Taumarunui–Ōhura
New Plymouth	Clifton
	Inglewood
	Kaitake
	Waitara
	Puketapu-Bell Block
South Taranaki	Eltham-Kaponga
	Pātea
	Te Hāwera
	Taranaki Coastal
Hastings	Hastings Rural	4		Independents		Independents	1 / 4	Details
Whanganui	Whanganui Rural
Rangitikei	Taihape
	Rātana
Horowhenua	Te Awahou Foxton
Tararua	Dannevirke
	Eketāhuna
Kāpiti Coast	Ōtaki
	Paraparaumu
	Raumati
	Waikanae
	Paekākāriki
Hutt City	Eastbourne
	Petone
	Wainuiomata
Wellington	Tawa
	Mākara/Ōhāriu
South Wairarapa	Featherston
	Greytown
	Martinborough
All 64 community boards

South Island and Stewart Island

Council	Community Board	Seats	Control				Details
			Previous		Result
	Lawrence-Tuapeka	6		Independents		Independents
	West Otago	6		Independents		Independents
	Ardlussa	6		didn't exist		Independents
	Fiordland	6		Independents		Independents
	Northern (Southland)	6		Independents		Independents
	Oraka Aparima	6		didn't exist		Independents
	Oreti	7		Independents		Independents
	Stewart Island-Rakiura	6		Independents		Independents
	Tuatapere Te Waewae	6		Independents		Independents
	Waihopai Toetoe	7		didn't exist		Independents
	Wallace Takitimu	6		didn't exist		Independents
	Mataura	5		Independents		Independents
	Bluff	5		Independents		Independents
All 49 community boards

Licensing trusts

Licensing Trust	Seats	Control				Incumbents returned	Details
		Previous		Result
Birkenhead (AKL)	6		No overall control		Your Community Trust	0 / 1
Mt Wellington (AKL)	6		Labour		Communities and Residents	2 / 6
Portage (AKL)	10		No overall control		No overall control	2 / 9
Waitākere (AKL)	7		No overall control		No overall control	4 / 7
Wiri (AKL)	6		Manurewa Action Team		Manurewa Action Team	3 / 6
Te Kauwhata						0 / 1
Flaxmere			?		Independents	?	Details
Rimutaka						0 / 1
Cheviot						0 / 1
Geraldine						0 / 1
Oamaru						0 / 1
Clutha						0 / 1
Mataura						0 / 1
Invercargill						0 / 1
All 14 licensing trusts	55

Other elections

Other election	Seats	Control				Details
		Previous		Result
Clutha Health Inc.	5		Independents		Independents
Gore and Districts Health Inc.	8		Independents		Independents
All 2 other elections	13

Mayors

Territorial authority	Incumbent	Winner	Runner-up	Third place	Details
Far North District [36]	John Carter	Moko Tepania	Ann Court	John Yujcich
Whangarei District [37]	Sheryl Mai	Vince Cocurullo	Mike Budd	Ken Couper
Kaipara District [38]	Jason Smith	Craig Jepson	Karen Joyce-Paki	Ash Nayyar
Auckland [39]	Phil Goff	Wayne Brown	Efeso Collins	Craig Lord	Details
Thames-Coromandel District [40]	Sandra Goudie	Len Salt	John Freer	Cherie Staples
Hauraki District	Toby Adams		re-elected unopposed [41]
Waikato District [42]	Allan Sanson	Jacqui Church	Aksel Bech	Korikori Hawkins
Matamata Piako District [43]	Ash Tanner	Adrienne Wilcock	Stu Husband	Russell Smith
Hamilton City [44]	Paula Southgate		Geoff Taylor	Horiana Henderson	Details
Waipa District [45]	Jim Mylchreest	Susan O'Regan	Jim Mylchreest	Chris Woodhams
Ōtorohanga District [46]	Max Baxter		Kit Jeffries	only two candidates
South Waikato District	Jenny Shattock	Gary Petley [47]	Arama Ngapo	only two candidates
Waitomo District [48]	John Robertson		Andy Connors	only two candidates
Taupō District [49]	David Trewavas		Christine Rankin	Sean Wakelin
Western Bay of Plenty District [50]	Gary Webber	James Denyer	Mark Boyle	John Scrimgeour
Tauranga City	N/A [lower-alpha 3]
Rotorua District [52]	Steve Chadwick	Tania Tapsell	Ben Sandford	Fletcher Tabuteau	Details
Whakatāne District [53]	Judy Turner	Victor Luca	Nándor Tánczos	Judy Turner
Kawerau District	Malcolm Campbell	Faylene Tunui	elected unopposed [54]
Ōpōtiki District [55]	Lyn Riesterer	David Moore	Louis Rapihana	Lyn Riesterer
Gisborne District [56]	Rehette Stoltz		Colin Alder	Rhonda Tibble
Wairoa District [57]	Craig Little		Benita Cairns	Simon Mutonhori
Hastings District	Sandra Hazlehurst		re-elected unopposed [54]
Napier City [58]	Kirsten Wise		Nigel Simpson	John Smith	Details
Central Hawke's Bay District	Alex Walker		re-elected unopposed [59]
New Plymouth District [60]	Neil Holdom		Murray Chong	Dinnie Moeahu
Stratford District	Neil Volzke		re-elected unopposed [61]
South Taranaki District	Phil Nixon [62]		Walter Charles Smith	only two candidates
Ruapehu District [63]	Don Cameron	Weston Kirton	Elijah Pue	Adie Doyle
Whanganui District [64]	Hamish McDouall	Andrew Tripe	Hamish McDouall	DC Harding
Rangitikei District [65]	Andy Watson		Simon Loudon	Dave Christison
Manawatū District [66]	Helen Worboys		Shane Casey	only two candidates
Palmerston North City [67]	Grant Smith		Glenn Mitchell	Hussein Kikihounga-Ngot
Tararua District [68]	Tracey Collis		Sharon Wards	Nick Hill
Horowhenua District [69]	Bernie Wanden		Sam Jennings	Victoria Kaye-Simmons
Kāpiti Coast District [70]	K Gurunathan	Janet Holborow	Rob McCann	Chris Mitchell	Details
Porirua City [71]	Anita Baker		Tapu Elia	Nicole Foss	Details
Upper Hutt City [72]	Wayne Guppy		Angela McLeod	Hellen Swales	Details
Lower Hutt City [73]	Campbell Barry		Tony Stallinger	Falgoon Patel	Details
Wellington City [74]	Andy Foster	Tory Whanau	Andy Foster	Paul Eagle	Details
Masterton District [75]	Lyn Patterson	Gary Caffell	Craig Bowyer	Jo Hayes	Details
Carterton District [76]	Greg Lang	Ron Mark	Greg Lang	only two candidates	Details
South Wairarapa District [77]	Alex Beijen	Martin Connelly	Alex Beijen	Daphne Geisler	Details
Tasman District [78]	Tim King		Mike Harvey	Maxwell Clark
Nelson City [79]	Rachel Reese	Nick Smith	Matt Lawrey	Rohan O'Neill-Stevens
Marlborough District [80]	John Leggett	Nadine Taylor	Matt Flight	Chris Lippiatt
Buller District [81]	Jamie Cleine		Patrick O'Dea	Richard Osmaston
Grey District [82]	Tania Gibson		Richard Osmaston	only two candidates
Westland District [83]	Bruce Smith	Helen Lash	Te Arohanui Cook	Latham Martin
Kaikoura District [84]	Craig Mackle		Kevin Heays	Ted Howard
Hurunui District	Marie Black		re-elected unopposed [85]
Waimakariri District [86]	Dan Gordon		Miles Stapylton-Smith	only two candidates
Christchurch City [87]	Lianne Dalziel	Phil Mauger	David Meates	Mark Chirnside	Details
Selwyn District [88]	Sam Broughton		Calvin Payne	Bill Woods
Ashburton District [89]	Neil Brown		Jeffrey-Robert Swindley	only two candidates
Timaru District [90]	Nigel Bowen		Stu Piddington	only two candidates
Mackenzie District [91]	Graham Smith	Anne Munro	Robin McCarthy	only two candidates
Waimate District [92]	Craig Rowley		Rick Stevens	only two candidates
Chatham Islands Territory [93]	Monique Croon		Greg Horler	only two candidates
Waitaki District [94]	Gary Kircher		Paul John Mutch	only two candidates
Central Otago District	Tim Cadogan		re-elected unopposed [85]
Queenstown-Lakes District [95]	Jim Boult	Glyn Lewers	Jon Mitchell	Olivia Wensley
Dunedin City [96]	Aaron Hawkins	Jules Radich	Aaron Hawkins	Sophie Barker	Details
Clutha District [97]	Bryan Cadogan		Bruce Graham	Gail Oats
Southland District [98]	Gary Tong	Rob Scott	Geoffrey Young	Gary Tong
Gore District [99]	Tracy Hicks	Ben Bell	Tracy Hicks	only two candidates
Invercargill City [100]	Tim Shadbolt	Nobby Clark	Toni Biddle	i	Details

Regional council chairs

Regional council	Incumbent	Chair
Northland Regional Council	Penny Smart	Tui Shortland [101]
Waikato Regional Council	Barry Quayle [102]	Pamela Storey [103]
Bay of Plenty Regional Council	Doug Leeder [104]
Hawke's Bay Regional Council	Rick Barker [105]	Hinewai Ormsby [106]
Taranaki Regional Council	David MacLeod	Charlotte Littlewood [107]
Horizons Regional Council	Rachel Keedwell [108]
Greater Wellington Regional Council	Daran Ponter [109]
West Coast Regional Council	Allan Birchfield
Canterbury Regional Council	Jenny Hughey	Peter Scott [110]
Otago Regional Council	Andrew Noone [111]	Gretchen Robertson [112]
Southland Regional Council	Nicol Horrell [113]

Notes

1. including mayor
2. excluding any appointed councillors
3. No election will take place in 2022 due to the government appointment of a commission. ^[51]

References

1. Council, Auckland. "Key dates for the 2022 local election". Auckland Council. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
2. Neilson, Michael (9 October 2022). "Local elections 2022: Calls for review over 'extremely concerning' record low turnout". The New Zealand Herald . Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
3. "About the 2022 Local Elections". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
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