2024 Tauranga local elections

2024 Tauranga local elections

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Turnout	42,632 (38.77% [a] )
Map of vote share of winning candidate by ward

The 2024 Tauranga local elections were held via postal voting from 29 June 2024 to 20 July 2024. ^[1] Elections in Tauranga covered one territorial authority, the Tauranga City Council.

These were the first elections for the Tauranga City Council since 2019, following the appointment by the Minister of Local Government of a Crown Commission to oversee Tauranga City Council's governance responsibilities on 9 February 2021. ^[1]

The Tauranga City Council used the single transferable voting system to elect the Mayor of Tauranga and city councillors ^[2] for a term that will last until the 2028 local elections. ^{[3] [4]}

Tauranga City Council created nine electoral wards for these elections. There were eight general wards (Mauao/Mount Maunganui, Arataki, Pāpāmoa, Welcome Bay, Matua-Otūmoetai, Bethlehem, Tauriko and Te Papa) and one Māori ward (Te Awanui, covering the entire city) which each returned one councillor. ^[2]

Candidates

Nominations for candidates opened on 26 April 2024 and closed on 24 May 2024. ^[5] The following 86 candidates ^[6] have been confirmed to be running for the positions of mayor and the nine city councillors: ^[7]

Mayor

Main article: 2024 Tauranga mayoral election

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Tanya Bamford-King	Independent
Aureliu Braguta	Independent
Greg Brownless	Community Focus – Responsible Spending	Mayor 2016–2019 [8]
Andrew Caie	Independent
Mahé Drysdale		Olympic champion rower, grandson of former mayor Bob Owens [9]
Anthony Goddard
Chudleigh Haggett
Ria Hall		Musician and television presenter [10]
Donna Hannah
BOP Hori		Also stood in 2016 [8]
Tim Maltby	Our Rates are too High
Jos Nagels	Visionary Leadership, Not Repeatership
Douglas Owens	Independent	Former Bay of Plenty regional councillor. [8] Son of former mayor Bob Owens, uncle of Mahé Drysdale [9]
John Robson [11]	Principled; Professional; Democratic	Councillor 2013–2016, 2018–2021 [8] [6]
Tina Salisbury	People and Progress over Politics	Deputy mayor 2020–2021 [12]

Councillors

Te Awanui Māori ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Suaree Borell	Learning, Leading and Leveraging
Ashley Hillis
Mikaere Sydney	Tauranga Moana Kōkiritia

Arataki general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Sarah-Jane Bourne
Rick Curach	Pick Rick community needs over wants
Anthony Goddard
Teresa Killian
Adrienne Pierce
Kim Renshaw	Voice for Arataki
Jeroen Van der Beek	A local for Arataki Ward
Andrea Webster	Independent
Harris Williams
Mike Williams	Common sense on Council

Bethlehem general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Charlene Apaapa
Shelley Archibald
Felicity Auva'a	Forward with Experience Energy Action
Darren Gilchrist
Gerry Hodgson
Jos Nagels	Visionary Leadership, Not Repeatership
Bevan Rakoia
John Robson [11]	Principled; Professional; Democratic
Kevin (Herb) Schuler	Constructive and Positive Leadership

Matua-Otūmoetai general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Tanya Bamford-King	Independent
Ronald Chamberlain
Glen Crowther	Accountability, Transparency, Community
Suzie Edmonds	Independent
Cam Holden	Independent
Jim McKinlay [10]
Ken Patterson
Basie Pikimaui	Tauranga Moana Kōkiritia
Tenby Powell	Our City. Our Future. Together	Mayor 2019–2020
Kim Pritchard	Independent
Mike Rayner	For keeping our current facilities
Zach Reeder
David Tank
David Webb	Tomorrow's thriving Tauranga, together

Mauao/Mount Maunganui general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Heidi Hughes [11]	Community, environment, future	Councillor 2019–2020
Garth Mathieson
Teresa Nichols	Independent
Michael O'Neill	Independent
Jacqueline Pointon
Jen Scoular	Commercial acumen, community heart
Peter Douglas Stanley

Pāpāmoa general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Bryan Archer
John Bowden
Phillip Coleman
Ria Hall [10]
Tim Maltby	Our Rates are too High
Steve Morris	Championing Pāpāmoa on Council	Former councillor [13]
Maaka Nelson
Craig Purcell	Pāpāmoa Pāpāmoa Proud
Shelley Robb	Independent

Tauriko general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Larry Baldock	Let's Keep Moving Forward	Former deputy mayor [11]
Murray Guy [14]	Democracy for Tauranga
Marten Rozeboom [10]
Stephen Wheeler

Te Papa general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Andrew Caie	Independent
Mark Decke
Chudleigh Haggett
Reihana Marx
Terry Molloy
Jim Smith	Loyal and Local
Rod Taylor	Tauranga True
Barbara Turley
Abraham (Bram) van Berkel

Welcome Bay general ward

Candidate	Ticket (if any)	Notes
Hautapu Baker	Healthy Environment Thriving Community
Aureliu Braguta
Ethan Brinkman	Ethan for Reason
Robert Coe	Independent
Donna Hannah
Cameron Templer	Action over Words

Candidate events

Date	Time	Location	Organiser	Ward	Participants		Video	Notes
					Attended	Absent
15 June	19:00–21:00	Bethlehem Hall	It's in the Ballot	Bethlehem general	Charlene Apaapa Shelley Archibald Darren Gilchrist Gerry Hodgson Jos Nagels Bevan Rakoia John Robson Kevin (Herb) Schuler	Felicity Auva'a	Link	[15]
16 June	13:00–15:00	Papamoa Community Centre	It's in the Ballot	Arataki general	Sarah-Jane Bourne Rick Curach Anthony Goddard Teresa Killian Adrienne Pierce Kin Renshaw Jeroen Van der Beek Andrea Webster Harris Williams	Mike Williams	Link	[16]
16 June	16:00–17:40	Papamoa Community Centre	It's in the Ballot	Mauao/Mount Maunganui geneal	Heidi Hughes Garther Mathieson Michael O'Neill Jen Scoular	Teresa Nicholls Jacqueline Pointon Peter Douglas Stanley	Link	[11] [17]
16 June	19:00–21:00	Papamoa Community Centre	It's in the Ballot	Pāpāmoa general	Bryan Archer John Bowden Ria Hall Tim Maltby Shelley Robb	Phillip Coleman Steve Morris Maaka Nelson Craig Purcell	Link	[10] [18]
17 June	16:00–18:00	Welcome Bay Community Centre	It's in the Ballot	Tauriko general	Larry Baldock Murray Guy Marten Rozeboom Stephen Wheeler		Link	[14] [10] [19]
17 June	19:00–21:00	Welcome Bay Community Centre	It's in the Ballot	Welcome Bay general	Hautapu Baker Aureliu Braguta Ethan Brinkman Robert Coe Donna Hannah Cameron Templer		Link	[20]
18 June	19:00–21:00	Tauranga Bridge Club	It's in the Ballot	Matua-Otūmoetai general	Tanya Bamford-King Glen Growther Suzie Edmonds Cam Holden Basie Pikimaui Tenby Powell Kim Pritchard Mike Rayner Zach Reeder David Tank David Webb	Ronald Chamberlain Jim McKinlay Kim Patterson	Link	[10] [21]
20 June	19:00–21:00	Te Wharekura o Mauao	It's in the Ballot	Te Awanui Māori	Suaree Borell Ashley Hillis Mikaere Sydney		Link	[22]
21 June	16:00–18:00	Elizabeth Street Community and Arts Center	It's in the Ballot	Te Papa general	Andrew Caie Chudleigh Haggett Terry Molloy Jim Smith Rod Taylor Barbara Turley Abraham (Bram) va Berkel	Mark Decke Reihana Marx	Link	[23]
21 June	19:00–22:00	Elizabeth Street Community and Arts Center	It's in the Ballot	Mayoralty	Tanya Bamford-King Aureliu Braguta Greg Brownless Andrew Caie Mahé Drysdale Chudleigh Haggett Ria Hall Donna Hannah Tim Maltby Jos Nagels Douglas Owens John Robson Tina Salisbury	Anthony Goddard BOP Hori	Link	[11] [24]
26 June	17:00–19:00	University of Waikato – Tauranga campus	Tauranga Business Chamber	Mayoralty	Gerry Brownless Mahe Drysdale Ria Hall Tina Salisbury			[25]

Results

The official results of the election were released on 25 July. ^[26] Voter turnout was 38.77%, ^[27] which compares with a turnout of 40.28% at the 2019 election. ^[28]

Only one woman, Jen Scoular for the Mauao/Mount Maunganui ward, was elected to the council. ^[28] Two former councillors, Steve Morris and Rick Curach, were re-elected. ^[28]

Mikaere Sydney was elected as councillor for Tauranga's first Māori ward Te Awanui, which the Tauranga commission had confirmed at a meeting in April 2021 following the passage of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021. Te Awanui is at risk of dissolution due to the National-led coalition government requiring local councils to hold binding referenda on Māori wards. ^[29]

Results of the 2024 Tauranga City Council elections ^[27]

Winning candidate	Position	Ward
Mahé Drysdale	Mayor	At-large
Jen Scoular	Councillor	Mauao/Mount Maunganui
Glen Crowther	Councillor	Matua-Otūmoetai
Rod Taylor	Councillor	Te Papa
Kevin "Herb" Schuler	Councillor	Bethlehem
Marten Rozeboom	Councillor	Tauriko
Hautapu Baker	Councillor	Welcome Bay
Rick Curach	Councillor	Arataki
Steve Morris	Councillor	Pāpāmoa
Mikaere Sydney	Councillor	Te Awanui

Notes

1. of eligible voters

References

1. Ingoe, Maia (26 April 2024). "Nominations open for Tauranga City Council local elections". RNZ . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
2. "Elections 2024 > Information for voters". www.tauranga.govt.nz. Tauranga City Council . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
3. "Wanted: candidates for council's 2024 election – The Bay's News First". www.sunlive.co.nz. SunMedia. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
4. "Dates for the Tauranga City Council Election in July 2024 and the Following Election". New Zealand Gazette . 22 August 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
5. "Elections 2024 > Information for candidates". www.tauranga.govt.nz. Tauranga City Council . Retrieved 4 May 2024.
6. Evans, Alisha (24 May 2024). "Tauranga City Council election hopefuls confirmed". SunLive. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
7. "Elections 2024". www.tauranga.govt.nz. Tauranga City Council . Retrieved 22 May 2024.
8. Gillespie, Kiri; Wilson, Megan (24 May 2024). "Tauranga election: Who's running and what you need to know about voting". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 24 May 2024.
9. Sylvester, Catherine (19 May 2024). "Tauranga election: Olympian Mahé Drysdale announces bid for mayor". Bay of Plenty Times . New Zealand Herald.
10. McConnell, Glenn. "Tauranga's star studded return to democracy". www.stuff.co.nz. Stuff . Retrieved 5 May 2024.
11. Gillespie, Kiri (14 May 2024). "Tauranga City Council election: Several sacked councillors running again". New Zealand Herald .
12. Evans, Alisha (26 April 2024). "Tina Salisbury to run for Tauranga mayoralty". SunLive. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
13. Evans, Alisha (17 May 2024). "Tauranga City Council nominations off to a slow start". RNZ . Retrieved 24 May 2024.
14. Gillespie, Kiri (21 May 2024). "Tauranga election: Murray Guy criticised for handling of user's 'barcode' comment on his page". Bay of Plenty Times . New Zealand Herald.
15. "Tauranga City Council – Bethlehem Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
16. "Tauranga City Council – Arataki Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
17. "Tauranga City Council – Mauao/Mount Maunganui Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
18. "Tauranga City Council – Pāpāmoa Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
19. "Tauranga City Council – Tauriko Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
20. "Tauranga City Council – Welcome Bay Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
21. "Tauranga City Council – Matua-Otūmoetai Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
22. "Tauranga City Council – Te Awanui Ward | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
23. "Te Papa Ward – Tauranga City Council | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
24. "Mayor – Tauranga City Council | itsintheballot.nz" . Retrieved 29 June 2024.
25. Kirkby-McLeod, Libby (27 June 2024). "Tauranga mayoral candidates face off as election looms". Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 30 June 2024.
26. "Elections 2024". Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
27. "2024 Council Elections DECLARATION OF RESULT" (PDF). Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
28. Wilson, Megan. "Mount Maunganui's Jen Scoular only woman elected in Tauranga City Council 2024 election". Bay of Plenty Times . The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 22 July 2022.
29. "Tauranga's first Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney undergoing medical treatment in hospital". The New Zealand Herald . 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.