2025 New Plymouth District Council election

2025 New Plymouth District Council election

← 2022 11 October 2025 2028 →

Mayoral election

Mayor before election Neil Holdom Independent Elected mayor TBD

Council election

14 seats on the New Plymouth District Council 8 seats needed for a majority

Party Seats +/– to be determined 14 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 2025New Plymouth District Council election is an upcoming local election to be held from 9 September to 11 October in the New Plymouth District of New Zealand as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. Voters will elect the mayor of New Plymouth, 14 district councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the New Plymouth District Council. Postal voting and the single transferable voting system will be used.

The council introduced a Māori ward at the 2022 election; its future will be decided in a referendum on the issue, as part of a nation-wide series of referendums.

Key dates

• 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates will open
• 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates will close at 12 pm
• 9 September 2025: Voting documents will be posted and voting will open
• 11 October 2025: Voting will close at 12 pm and progress/preliminary results will be published
• 16–19 October 2025: Final results will be declared. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Background

Positions up for election

Voters in the district will elect the mayor of New Plymouth, 14 councillors from 5 wards, and the members of five community boards (Clifton, Inglewood, Kaitake, Puketapu-Bell Block, and Waitara). ^[2] They will also elect members of the Taranaki Regional Council. ^{[a] [4]}

List of candidates

Incumbents not seeking re-election

• Tony Bedford, councillor since 2019 ^{[5] [6]}
• Harry Duynhoven, former mayor (2010–2013) and councillor since a 2015 by-election ^[7]
• Bali Haque, councillor since 2022 ^[5]
• Anneka Carlson Matthews, councillor since 2019 ^[5]
• Neil Holdom, mayor since 2016 ^[8]
• Marie Pearce, councillor since 2010 ^{[5] [9]}

Mayor

Candidate [10]	Affiliation [b]		Notes
Sam Bennett		Independent	Previously ran for the mayoralty in 2022. Incumbent councillor for the at-large ward. [12] [13] Also running for re-election as a councillor.
Max Brough		Independent	Incumbent at-large councillor. [13] Previously ran for the mayoralty in 2019. [14]
David Bublitz		Independent	Incumbent deputy mayor and Kaitake-Ngāmotu general ward councillor. [13] [15] Also running to be a councillor for the at-large ward.
Graham Chard		None	Incumbent chair of the Kaitake Community Board. [16] Also running to be a councillor for the Kaitake Ngāmotu ward.
Sarah Lucas		None	Inglewood community board member. [17] Also running to be a councillor for the Kōhanga Moa general ward.
Greg Mackay		None	Previously ran for the mayoralty in 2019 and 2022. [18] Also running as a councillor in the at-large ward.
Peter Marra		None	Also running as a councillor in the Kaitake-Ngāmotu general ward
Bill Simpson		None	Also running to be a councillor for the North general ward
John Woodward		Independent	Former police officer. Also running to be a councillor for the at-large ward. [19]

Withdrawn

• Murray Chong, incumbent councillor for the Kaitake-Ngāmotu ward, ^[13] had indicated in May that he would run for the mayoralty, ^[20] but is instead just running for re-election as a councillor. ^[21]
• Murray "Mullet Muzz" McDowell, had previously indicated that he would run for the mayoralty, ^[12] but is instead just running to be elected as a councillor for the Kaitake-Ngāmotu ward. ^[21]

Councillors

Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori ward

Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa Māori ward will return one councillor to the district council. ^[2]

Candidate [22] [10]	Affiliation [b]		Notes
Te Waka McLeod		None	Incumbent councillor since 2022 [23]
Peter Moeahu		None	Taranaki iwi representative and father of councillor Dinnie Moeahu [24] [23]

Kaitake-Ngāmotu general ward

Kaitake-Ngāmotu general ward will return six councillors to the district council. ^[2]

Candidate [22] [10]	Affiliation [b]		Notes
EJ Barrett		None	Disabilities advocate [21]
Gordon Brown		Independent	Incumbent councillor since 2013, [13] and former journalist. [21] Running again after initially indicating that he would not run for re-election. [5] [25] [26] [21]
Peter Buis		None
Graham Chard		None	Incumbent chair of the Kaitake Community Board. [16] Also running for mayor. [21]
Ewen Darling		None
Damon Fox		ACT Local	Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) clinician [27]
Moira Irving George		None	Former Taranaki Regional councillor [28]
Ross Johnston		None
Lani Mackie-Hunt		None	[21]
Peter Marra		None	Also running for mayor
Mullet Muzz McDowell		None	Former truck and trailor operator. Previously ran for the mayoralty in 2022. [12] [21]
Michael Morresey		None	Known as the "Flag Man". Chairperson of Hope Walk New Plymouth/Taranaki Charitable Trust. [21]
Michael Paul O'Sullivan		Independent
David Payne		None
Adrian Sole		None
Craig Tonkin		None
Nikki Truman		None
Bryan Vickery		None	Incumbent councillor, [13] and former broadcaster [21]
Kerry Vosseler		None	Former owner of Chaos Cafe [21]

Kōhanga Moa general ward

Kōhanga Moa general ward will return one councillor to the district council. ^[2]

Candidate [22] [10]	Affiliation [b]		Notes
Jeremy Brooking		None
Christine Fabish		None	Incumbent chairperson of the Inglewood community board [16]
Sarah Lucas		None	Incumbent member of the Inglewood community board. [16] Also running for mayor.

North general ward

North general ward will return one councillor to the district council. ^[2]

Candidate [22] [10]	Affiliation [b]		Notes
Gina Alicia Blackburn		None
Ian Cummings		Independent
Dayna Brent Jury		None
Jonathan Marshall		Independent	Incumbent chair of the Waitara community board [16]
Jane Parker-Bishop		None	Incumbent deputy chairperson of the Waitara community board [16]
Bill Simpson		None	Previously ran for council in 2022. [29] Also running for mayor.

At-large ward

Five councillors will be elected at-large to the district council. ^[2]

Candidate [22] [10]	Affiliation [b]		Notes
Sam Bennett		Independent	Incumbent councillor. [13] Also running for mayor. [12]
David Bublitz		Independent	Incumbent deputy mayor and councillor. [13] Also running for mayor.
Simon Chadwick		None
Murray Chong		None	Incumbent councillor. [13]
Shaun Clare		None
Amanda Clinton-Gohdes		None	Incumbent councillor [13]
Mark Coster		Independent
Steve Francis		None
Teresa Goodin		None
Tina Koch		None
Debbie Hancock		Independent
Nigel Jones		None
Greg Mackay		None	Also running for mayor
Dinnie Moeahu		None	Incumbent councillor [13]
Sarah Sutherland		None
Wayne Williamson		None
John Woodward		Independent	Former police officer. Also running for mayor [19]

Notes

1. • 5 members from the district in the New Plymouth general constituency
   • 2 members from the district in the North Taranaki general constituency
   • 1 member partially from the district in the Taranaki Māori constituency.
2. A candidate may leave their affiliation blank, run as an independent, or run with an affiliation to an organisation, local body ticket or political party. New Plymouth District Council does not allow election slogans to be used for the affiliation. ^[11]

References

1. "TIMETABLE | WĀTAKA" (PDF). www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
2. "FACT SHEET | WHĀRANGI MEKA" (PDF). www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
3. "Elections timeline". www.trc.govt.nz. Taranaki Regional Council . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
4. "Frequently Asked Questions – local elections". www.trc.govt.nz. Taranaki Regional Council . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
5. McLean, Glenn (29 April 2025). "List of councillors not standing grows around NPDC table". Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 29 April 2025.
6. Groenestein, Catherine (21 October 2019). "New councillor wins seat on New Plymouth District Council by a three-vote margin". Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 12 May 2025.
7. McLean, Glenn (16 July 2025). "Harry Duynhoven calls time on political career". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
8. McLean, Glenn (30 July 2025). "New Plymouth mayor to retire from politics in October". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
9. Harvey, Helen (31 December 2024). "Recognition for a small town's champion". Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 12 May 2025.(subscription required)
10. "NOTICE OF DAY OF ELECTION AND POLL FOR THE NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL" (PDF). www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council . Retrieved 7 August 2025.
11. "2025 CANDIDATE INFORMATION HANDBOOK" (PDF). www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council. p. 13. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
12. Johnston, Will (1 March 2025). "Bennett first to put hand up for New Plymouth mayoralty". Taranaki Daily News . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
13. "Mayor and councillors". www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council . Retrieved 18 April 2025.
14. McLean, Glenn (28 June 2025). "Brough makes second bid for New Plymouth mayoralty". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
15. McLean, Glenn (1 August 2025). "Bublitz grabs at chance to move up from being deputy". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
16. "Community board members". www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council . Retrieved 11 July 2025.
17. McLean, Glenn (20 June 2025). "Add the name Sarah Lucas to the New Plymouth mayoralty race". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
18. "No female candidate for New Plymouth mayoral elections". RNZ . 17 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
19. McLean, Glenn (20 June 2025). "Mayoral candidate wants better council communication". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
20. MacLean, Glenn (14 May 2025). "Another crack at New Plymouth mayoralty for Murray Chong". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
21. Martin, Robin (4 August 2025). "Colourful characters go head-to-head for seat on New Plymouth council". RNZ . Retrieved 5 August 2025.
22. "Candidates". www.npdc.govt.nz. New Plymouth District Council . Retrieved 2 August 2025.
23. Ashworth, Craig (6 July 2025). "Shaky seat to vote future vs history". Te Ao Māori News . Retrieved 6 July 2025.
24. McLean, Glenn. "Moeahu Sr to stand for New Plymouth council". The Post. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
25. Martin, Robin (8 October 2024). "Taranaki 'unitary council' a 'no-brainer', councillor says". Radio New Zealand . Retrieved 12 May 2025.
26. McLean, Glenn (2 August 2025). "NPDC nominations close: Brown has late change of heart". Taranaki Daily News . The Post. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
27. ACT New Zealand (25 June 2025). "Local Addictions Clinician, Damon Fox, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For New Plymouth District Council Election". www.scoop.co.nz. Scoop. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
28. George, Moira (9 July 2025). ""Stay In Your Lane," Says NPDC Candidate Moira George" (Press release). Scoop . Retrieved 11 July 2025.
29. Smith, Blanton (7 October 2022). "The council candidate who can't vote for himself". Stuff . Retrieved 30 July 2025.