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2025 Greater Wellington Regional Council election

The 2025 Greater Wellington Regional Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Wellington region of New Zealand, as part of that year's regional council elections and other local elections held nation-wide. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system were used.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council makes decisions about environmental management, flood protection and land management, the provision of regional parks, public transport planning and funding, and metropolitan water supply for Greater Wellington.

The council introduced a Māori constituency for this election and, in a referendum on its future held alongside this election, as part of a nation-wide series of referendums, voters elected to keep the Māori constituency.

Key dates

  • 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates opened
  • 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates closed at 12 pm
  • 9 September 2025: Voting documents were posted and voting opened
  • 11 October 2025: Voting closed at 12 pm and progress/preliminary results released
  • 16–19 October 2025: Final results will be declared.

Background

Referendum

In October 2023, the Greater Wellington Regional Council voted to create a Māori constituency for the 2025 & 2028 elections.

In July 2024, the National-led coalition government passed the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 which reinstated the requirement that councils must hold a referendum before establishing Māori wards or constituencies. The council then voted unanimously in August 2024 to affirm their decision to establish the Māori constituency, thereby triggering a referendum on the constituency to be held alongside the 2025 local elections.

List of candidates

Incumbents not seeking re-election

  • David Bassett, councillor for the Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency
  • Chris Kirk-Burnnand, councillor for the Porirua-Tawa constituency
  • Ken Laban, councillor for the Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency, is instead seeking election for mayor in Lower Hutt
  • David Lee, councillor for the Pōneke/Wellington constituency, is instead seeking election as a councillor for the PukehÄ«nau/Lambton ward of the Wellington City Council
  • Thomas Nash, Green Party councillor for the Pōneke/Wellington constituency

Te Upoko o te ika a Māui Māori constituency

Te Upoko o te ika a Māui Māori constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.

As the only candidate, Makarini was elected unopposed to be the inaugural Te Upoko o te ika a Māui Māori constituency councillor.

Kāpiti Coast constituency

The Kāpiti Coast constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.

Porirua-Tawa constituency

The Porirua-Tawa constituency returned two councillors to the regional council.

Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt constituency

Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.

As the only candidate, Connelly was re-elected unopposed.

Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency

Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency returned three councillors to the regional council.

Pōneke/Wellington constituency

The Pōneke/Wellington constituency returned five councillors to the regional council.

Wairarapa constituency

The Wairarapa constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.

Results

With the final results, the following candidates were declared elected:

Summary

Kāpiti Coast regional constituency

Porirua-Tawa regional constituency

Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt regional constituency

Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt regional constituency

Pōneke/Wellington regional constituency

Wairarapa regional constituency

Te Upoko o te ika a Maui Māori regional constituency

Māori constituency referendum

See also

Notes

References