Nelson City Council
In the 2019 New Zealand local elections,O'Neill-Stevens was elected to the Nelson City Council,aged 19. [6] [7] O'Neill-Stevens campaigned on issues such as public transport improvements,youth engagement,and housing. [8]
In the 2022 New Zealand local elections,O'Neill-Stevens ran for re-election and for mayor of Nelson,campaigning on three pillars:"a strong city,resilient communities,and healthy nature". [9] [10] He finished in third place for the mayoralty and was reelected as a councillor,as the highest polling At Large candidate. [11] Following the election,O'Neill-Stevens was appointed deputy mayor by Mayor Nick Smith to "provide balance",with Smith highlighting their different political leanings. [12]
While on Council,O'Neill-Stevens led the City Revitalisation Taskforce,overseeing the council's $78 million "Bridge to Better" project, [13] served as Chair of the Arts and Creativity Taskforce and City Centre Business Forum,and as Deputy Chair of the District Licensing and Infrastructure committees. [14] [15] He also served as Co-Chair of Local Government New Zealand's Young Elected Members Committee and as President of Trafinz,the New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute. [16]
In June 2025,O'Neill-Stevens announced he would not stand for reelection in the 2025 New Zealand local elections,citing a commitment to be in "the most effective position ... to drive change" and did not rule out a shift to central government. [17] Mayor Nick Smith said he "disappointed for Nelson" that O'Neill-Stevens was not seeking reelection,calling his appointment as deputy mayor as one of his best decisions,and predicted O'Neill-Stevens would be elected to Parliament "sooner rather than later". [18] [19]
