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.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

  • Reduce and change the mix of staff on council to align with core services, increasing engineers, asset and project management, and decreasing communications and culture staff.

    Encourage easy and meaningful engagement with the public but oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and voting power.

    Reinstate town hall type meetings with constituents and council to allow true participation and debate with all, not just lobby groups.

  • Commit to continuing Tākai Here, the formal partnership which established a shared governance model with mana whenua and Māori ward.

    Instruct and KPI the CE to comprehensively performance manage staff and enforce a culture of cost management and commercial discipline.

    Work with the CE and CFO to improve the quality and interrogation of financial information presented to councillors for decision making.

  • Build respectful partnerships with mana whenua, communities, social agencies, neighbouring councils and the government of the day.

    Require clear accountability in council reporting so residents and businesses can see what is promised, delivered and delayed.

    Restore trust by running a council that listens, engages early and makes decisions with communities, not for them.

  • Consult on a compulsory random lottery scheme for council representation. Hanga petipeti o te minenga ki te tū hei kaikaunihera.

    Employ a town crier for each suburb. Announce all council decisions by the town crier. Ka tū te kaipānui mō te kaunihera.

  • Allow Silly Hat partisan politics to dominate council as we dominate man, beast and all the fishes in the sea.

    Proclaim a new council ward to be inhabited by any silly people who reject the Silly Hat Party agenda.

    Reduce all councillor and mayoral wages to seven chocolate fish per week.

  • Assess internal operations and improve efficiency where possible.

    Reform the size and role of the council by reducing the number of communications roles while hiring more with engineering backgrounds.

    Support public engagement with residents' associations, business associations and ethnic communities.

  • Drive a culture of transparency and accountability at council and require community impact statements for all major council decisions.

    Support living wage for all council staff and contractors and settle a pay equity deal with library workers whose rights were taken off them.

    Support retention of the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward at Wellington City Council and strengthen mana whenua partnerships.

  • Start regular community forums and surveys to ensure meaningful public input into council decisions.

    Strengthen partnerships with mana whenua and support Māori wards for better representation and decision-making.

    Improve transparency by publishing clear performance data on council services and spending.

  • Reduce and change the mix of staff on council to align with core services, increasing engineers, asset and project management, and decreasing communications and culture staff.

    Encourage easy and meaningful engagement with the public but oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and voting power.

    Reinstate town hall type meetings with constituents and council to allow true participation and debate with all, not just lobby groups.

  • Commit to continuing Tākai Here, the formal partnership which established a shared governance model with mana whenua and Māori ward.

    Instruct and KPI the CE to comprehensively performance manage staff and enforce a culture of cost management and commercial discipline.

    Work with the CE and CFO to improve the quality and interrogation of financial information presented to councillors for decision making.

  • Build respectful partnerships with mana whenua, communities, social agencies, neighbouring councils and the government of the day.

    Require clear accountability in council reporting so residents and businesses can see what is promised, delivered and delayed.

    Restore trust by running a council that listens, engages early and makes decisions with communities, not for them.

  • Consult on a compulsory random lottery scheme for council representation. Hanga petipeti o te minenga ki te tū hei kaikaunihera.

    Employ a town crier for each suburb. Announce all council decisions by the town crier. Ka tū te kaipānui mō te kaunihera.

  • Allow Silly Hat partisan politics to dominate council as we dominate man, beast and all the fishes in the sea.

    Proclaim a new council ward to be inhabited by any silly people who reject the Silly Hat Party agenda.

    Reduce all councillor and mayoral wages to seven chocolate fish per week.

  • Assess internal operations and improve efficiency where possible.

    Reform the size and role of the council by reducing the number of communications roles while hiring more with engineering backgrounds.

    Support public engagement with residents' associations, business associations and ethnic communities.

  • Drive a culture of transparency and accountability at council and require community impact statements for all major council decisions.

    Support living wage for all council staff and contractors and settle a pay equity deal with library workers whose rights were taken off them.

    Support retention of the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward at Wellington City Council and strengthen mana whenua partnerships.

  • Start regular community forums and surveys to ensure meaningful public input into council decisions.

    Strengthen partnerships with mana whenua and support Māori wards for better representation and decision-making.

    Improve transparency by publishing clear performance data on council services and spending.