Whangārei District Council
The Whangārei District Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also makes decisions about building and planning, local regulations, and infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage. The council is made up of 13 councillors and the mayor. Councillors are elected to represent wards (areas in the district). two councillors will be elected from the Bream Bay ward. 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 Whangārei District Council election.
Whangārei District Council candidates
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Simon Schuster
Why I'm standing
I have always had serving the community at the heart of my values. I am shifting my focus from supporting school communities to Whangarei as a whole. I want to bring the skills, experience and passion I have developed in education to local governance, ensuring residents' voices are heard and delivering practical outcomes that improve the lives of people across our city.
About me
I would make a strong elected representative because 18 years in rural communities have given me a deep understanding of local needs. I have 13 years of experience in school governance and eight as a principal, during which I developed strategic visions and turned them into action. I have experience navigating government and council processes, building networks and ensuring community voices are heard. I know how to get projects moving—and get them done—effectively and collaboratively.
My priorities
- Hold council accountable by stopping rate rises without clear, visible benefits and supporting a council-controlled trading organisation to ease rates.
- Fight for rural resilience by securing fair funding to revitalise towns and improve essential roads.
- Create a knowledge hub to connect youth with education and local job opportunities.
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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