The 2026 Dunedin City Council by-election is an upcoming local by-election in Dunedin, New Zealand prompted by the death of councillor Jules Radich on 4 January 2026. Voters will elect one member representing the city at-large. The winner will serve for the remainder of the 2025âÂÂ2028 term. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system will be used.
Key dates related to the by-election are:
The election is estimated to cost the council around $400,000, with costs dependent on factors including the number of candidates.
Former mayor Aaron Hawkins announced his intention to stand in February as an independent candidate. Former city councillors Carmen Houlahan, Andrew Whiley, Bill Acklin and Conrad Stedman have announced their intention to stand. Other candidates include Jo Galer, Lync Aronson, Richard Knights, Pamela Taylor, Lianne MacFarlane and Garreth Ottley. The Green Party, Labour Party and ACT Party confirmed in February that they would not be endorsing a candidate in the election. Fourteen candidates registered by the nomination deadline of 2 March.
The Otago Daily Times reported on 10 March that councillors Steve Walker, Christine Garey, and Mickey Treadwell had endorsed former mayor Aaron Hawkins; councillors Andrew Simms, Lee Vandervis, and Russell Lund had endorsed former councillor Conrad Stedman.
Results will be released after the election. <onlyinclude></onlyinclude>