Mayor of Wellington
The mayor is the leader of the council. Their job is to promote a vision for the city 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 single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Wellington City Council mayoral election.
Mayor of Wellington candidates
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Ray Chung
INDEPENDENT TOGETHER - Vote For IT
Karl Tiefenbacher
Independent
Joan Shi
Independent
Scott Caldwell
The Scoot Foundation
Diane Calvert
Not Affiliated
William Pennywize
Pennywize the Rewilding Clown
Alex Baker
Independent
Josh Harford
Aotearoa New Zealand Silly Hat Party
Rob Goulden
My Vision for the City 2050
Andrew Little
Labour
Kelvin Hastie
Independent
Donald McDonald
Mcdone waiting 2coming terms Passover
Diane Calvert
Why I'm standing
I'm running because I care deeply about Wellington and its future. Our city is New Zealand's capital, yet it is struggling with the basics and people are losing trust in the council. For nine years I've stood with communities, challenged poor decisions and delivered practical results. My motivation is simple: to restore trust, respect the ratepayer and provide the practical leadership Wellington needs through my "Wellington Plan".
About me
I know how council works and where it fails. For nine years I've brought experience, independence and common sense to the table by calling out waste, standing with communities, and delivering practical results. I'm a pragmatic leader who listens, asks hard questions and focuses on outcomes that matter. With strong connections across Wellington and the ability to work constructively with others, I will continue to be a trusted voice for residents and businesses.
My priorities
- Reset the budget to cut expenditure and focus on essentials so rates are affordable.
- Protect what matters by fixing core services, keeping communities safe and restoring trust.
- Grow the city by backing housing, business and innovation to create jobs and attract investment.
Get across the policies, candidates and parties
Don’t know who to vote for? Policy.nz is the complete guide to the 2025 local elections. Compare the candidates and policies to see where you stand.
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