2025 Whanganui District Council election

Last updated

2025 Whanganui District Council election
Whanganui CoA (shield only).svg
  2022 11 October 20252028 
Mayoral election

Mayor before election

Andrew Tripe
Independent

Elected mayor

TBD

Council election

12 seats on the Whanganui District Council
7 seats needed for a majority
PartySeats+/–
to be determined 12
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
2025 Whanganui District Council election - Popular vote share of elected councillors by ward.svg

The 2025Whanganui District Council election is an upcoming local election to be held from 9 September to 11 October in the Whanganui District of New Zealand as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. Voters will elect the mayor of Whanganui, 12 district councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the Whanganui District Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system will be used.

Contents

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

Key dates

Background

Positions up for election

Voters in the district will elect the mayor of Whanganui, 12 councillors in 2 wards, and the members of the Rural Community Board. [a] [3] They will also elect members of the Horizons Regional Council. [b] [2] [4]

Campaign

List of candidates

Incumbents not seeking re-election

Mayor

Candidate [7] Photo Affiliation [c] Notes
Josh Chandulal-MackayA New Generation of LeadershipCouncillor since 2016. [9] Also running for re-election as a councillor in the general ward.
Gregory McPheeNoneAlso running to be a councillor in the general ward
Peter OskamCommunity before CoinCouncillor since 2022. [5] [10] Also running for re-election as a councillor in the general ward.
Andrew Tripe Andrew Tripe 2024 (cropped head and shoulders).jpg Let's keep Whanganui moving forwardMayor since 2022 [5] [11]

Councillors

Whanganui Māori ward

Whanganui Māori ward will return two councillors to the district council. [3] [12]

Candidate [7] Affiliation [c] Notes
Kiritahi Firmin Independent
Julie HerewiniNone
Geoff HipangoNone
Hayden PotakaIndependent
Phil T Reweti (Bear)None

Whanganui General ward

Whanganui General ward will return ten councillors to the district council. [3] [12]

Candidate [7] Affiliation [c] Notes
Philippa Baker-Hogan Ratepayer & Sport focusedIncumbent councillor [13]
Jason BardellBack to Basics
Glenda BrownIndependentCouncillor since 2022 [5] [13]
Josh Chandulal-MackayA New Generation of LeadershipIncumbent councillor since 2016. [9] Also running for mayor.
Julian EmmettNone
Ross FallenIndependentCouncillor since 2022 [5] [13]
Awhi HaengaNoneGreen endorsed [14]
Mike HosA voice for our city's future
Tracey JarmanRates & Community focused
Kate JoblinIndependentCouncillor since 2016 [5] [13]
Sandra Isobel Kyle Animal Justice Party of Aotearoa NZ [15]
Michael LawWhanganui FirstCouncillor since 2022 [5] [13]
Gregory McPheeNoneAlso running for mayor
Charlotte MelserIndependentCouncillor since 2022 [5] [13]
Michael OrganWhanganui First
Rob OscroftFocus Whanganui
Peter OskamCommunity before CoinAlso standing for mayor. Councillor since 2022. [5] [13]
Scott PhillipsEvery cent counts, every voice matters
Jay RerekuraNone
Tony SundmanNone
Rob VinsenRatepayer focusedCouncillor since 2008 [5] [13]
Robin WestleyIndependent
Azian Z.Real solutions for Whanganui


See also

Notes

    • 2 members in the Whanganui subdivision.
    • 2 members in the Kaitoke subdivision.
    • 2 members in the Kai Iwi subdivision.
    • 2 members from the district in the Whanganui constituency.
    • 1 member partially from the district in the Raki Māori constituency.
  1. 1 2 3 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. Whanganui District Council does not allow whānau, hapū, or iwi details to be used for the affiliation. [8]

References

  1. "Key dates and contact information". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council . Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Elections 2025". www.horizons.govt.nz. Horizons Regional Council . Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 "Determination" (PDF). www.lgc.govt.nz. Local Government Commission . Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  4. "He Arotake Kanohitanga | Representation Review". www.horizons.govt.nz. Horizons Regional Council . Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ellis, Moana (28 February 2025). "Deputy mayor to stand aside after 12 years on Whanganui council". Whanganui Chronicle . The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  6. Ellis, Moana (19 July 2025). "Departing councillor: 'Social media abuse has got out of hand'". Stuff. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "2025 Triennial Elections | Whanganui District Council". electionz.com. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  8. "Pukapuka Aratohu Kaitonopōti | Candidate Handbook" (PDF). www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council. p. 16. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  9. 1 2 Tweed, Mike (29 March 2025). "Three-term councillor running for mayor". Whanganui Chronicle . The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  10. Tweed, Mike (3 May 2025). "Another councillor announces mayoralty bid". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 3 May 2025.
  11. Tweed, Mike (28 June 2025). "Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe announces re-election bid". Whanganui Chronicle . The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  12. 1 2 Tweed, Mike (29 January 2025). "Signed off: Twelve councillors for this year's election". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Meet Your Mayor and Councillors". www.whanganui.govt.nz. Whanganui District Council . Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  14. "Awhi Haenga". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand . Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  15. "Our Candidates". animaljustice.org.nz. Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand . Retrieved 27 July 2025.