2025 Hamilton mayoral election

The 2025 Hamilton mayoral election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Hamilton, New Zealand, as part of that year's city council election and nation-wide local elections. Voters elected the mayor of Hamilton for the 2025–2028 term of the Hamilton City Council. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system were used.

The incumbent mayor Paula Southgate did not run for a second term.

Candidate names were provisionally released by the City Council on 1 August identifying 12 candidates.

Tim Macindoe was elected mayor, receiving 18,275 votes to Sarah Thomson’s 10,183.

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 will be published
• 16–19 October 2025: Final results will be declared.

Background

Campaign

During the Hamilton mayoral election, Macindoe ran on a conservative platform of "cost reductions" including lower rates and "slimming down" the Hamilton City Council. His main competitor Sarah Thomson ran on a progressive platform of opposing cuts to Council services, improving housing and bus services, and keeping rates "affordable."

List of candidates

Declared

Results

Tim Macindoe won the mayoral election, with Sarah Thomson coming second.

References

Notes