NZ Local Elections 2025

Mayor of Hastings

The mayor is the leader of the council. Their job is to promote a vision for the district and lead the development of the council’s plans, policies and budget. The mayor appoints the deputy mayor, establishes committees for particular topics, and appoints chairs for those committees. This is a first past the post (FPP) election, so you vote by ticking the name of your preferred candidate on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Hastings District Council mayoral election.

Candidates

Policies

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Steve Gibson

Steve Gibson

Keeping rate rises to inflation (CPI)

Wendy Schollum

Wendy Schollum

Proven Leadership - Fresh Thinking

Darrin Wilson

Darrin Wilson

Damon Harvey

Damon Harvey

Accountable to You

Marcus Buddo

Marcus Buddo

Steve Gibson

Keeping rate rises to inflation (CPI)

Steve Gibson

Keeping rate rises to inflation (CPI)

Why I'm standing

I'm running for Mayor because Hastings needs a council that puts people first, manages money wisely, and delivers on the basics like roads, water, rubbish, and reliable infrastructure. For too long, ratepayers have faced double-digit increases while wasteful projects and poor financial oversight have driven debt to unsustainable levels. That must change.

About me

I bring 24 years of frontline service in the Police, including a decade as a Sergeant leading teams, managing stations, and working as a prosecutor. I then spent 10 years running successful motels in Napier, giving me first-hand experience in business, budgeting, and customer service. I also served two terms as a councillor in Feilding, where I kept rate increases capped to inflation while still delivering strong infrastructure.

My priorities
  1. Restructure council, increase engineer expertise and decrease passenger staff.
  2. Shift failing council assets propped up by rates into community trusts to save money.
  3. Increase competition on council roads to smaller contractors and stop cartel preferred contractors.
Residence

Havelock North

Age

55

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Why I'm standing

I'm running for Mayor because Hastings needs a council that puts people first, manages money wisely, and delivers on the basics like roads, water, rubbish, and reliable infrastructure. For too long, ratepayers have faced double-digit increases while wasteful projects and poor financial oversight have driven debt to unsustainable levels. That must change.

About me

I bring 24 years of frontline service in the Police, including a decade as a Sergeant leading teams, managing stations, and working as a prosecutor. I then spent 10 years running successful motels in Napier, giving me first-hand experience in business, budgeting, and customer service. I also served two terms as a councillor in Feilding, where I kept rate increases capped to inflation while still delivering strong infrastructure.

My priorities
  1. Restructure council, increase engineer expertise and decrease passenger staff.
  2. Shift failing council assets propped up by rates into community trusts to save money.
  3. Increase competition on council roads to smaller contractors and stop cartel preferred contractors.
Residence

Havelock North

Age

55

Connect via

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