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
Scott Caldwell
Why I'm standing
Wellington was once unbeatable. I visited for the first time in June to find a city trapped in the 1980s due to decades enthralled to the nostalgia of curtain twitchers blocking change. Wellington has wallowed in nostalgia. Auckland has been building. New housing, train stations, and public spaces have meant Auckland is turning the corner on the housing crisis, more connected and vibrant. I will cut through nostalgia and deliver Auckland solutions for Wellington problems.
About me
I have worked as a housing advocate for years and built a following based on my understanding of local government. I can bring lessons from Auckland's success and challenges to help Wellington succeed.
My priorities
- Build housing and infrastructure by ending the culture of no blocking projects.
- Make government pay its fair share as the largest landowner in Wellington while (currently) paying no rates.
- Get trains into the heart of the city by delivering the Wellington City Rail Link rather than dumping on the edge.
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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