The 2025 Christchurch City Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Christchurch, New Zealand, as part of that year's territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected the mayor of Christchurch, 16 city councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the Christchurch City Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
Key dates 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates opened 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates closed at 12 noon 9 September 2025: Voting documents were posted and voting opened 11 October 2025: Voting closed at 12 noon and progress/preliminary results published 16–19 October 2025: Final results declared.
Background
Positions up for election Voters in the city elected the mayor of Christchurch, 16 councillors in 16 wards, and the members of six community boards. They also elected several members of Environment Canterbury.
Campaign
Mayor
Council
List of candidates Incumbents not seeking re-election Sara Templeton did not stand again in the Heathcote ward to focus on the mayoral campaign. James Gough, councillor for the Fendalton ward since 2010, had initially indicated that he would run for re-election but announced in late July that he would stand down to take up a role as executive director at The Terrace
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Phil Mauger announced he would stand for re-election. He would face Heathcote ward councillor Sara Templeton and perennial candidate Tubby Hansen.
Councillors Each of the 16 wards returned one councillor to the city council. The People's Choice stood candidates in nine of the wards, including their six incumbents.
Harewood ward CandidateAffiliation NotesAaron KeownIndependent Candidate for HarewoodIncumbent councillor
As the only candidate, Keown was re-elected unopposed.
Waimairi ward CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesSam MacDonaldIndependent CitizensIncumbent councillor
As the only candidate, MacDonald was re-elected unopposed.
Papanui ward CandidateAffiliation Notes Simon Britten The People's Choice Incumbent deputy chair of the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board. Endorsed by the Green Party.Victoria HenstockYour Local Independent Community VoiceIncumbent councillor
Fendalton ward CandidateAffiliation NotesDavid CartwrightIndependent CitizensIncumbent Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood community board memberXavier DickasonFor Fendalton's FutureDiane EllisIndependent
Innes ward CandidateAffiliation Notes Pauline Cotter The People's ChoiceDeputy mayor and councillor since 2013Ali JonesIndependentWaipapa Papanui-Innes-Central community board member since 2013, and former councillor 2013–2016.
Burwood ward CandidateAffiliation NotesKelly BarberIndependent for BurwoodIncumbent councillorFionna ChapmanThe People's Choice – LabourCommunity worker
Coastal ward CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesTaraia BrownIndependentCeleste DonovanIndependentIncumbent councillorJo ZervosIndependentIncumbent Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood community board member
Hornby ward CandidateAffiliation NotesMark PetersIndependent for HornbyIncumbent councillor
As the only candidate, Peters was re-elected unopposed.
Halswell ward CandidateAffiliation NotesAndrei MooreIndependentIncumbent councillorDylan SmartIndependent Citizens
Riccarton ward CandidateAffiliation NotesMark ChirnsideNone Tyla Harrison-Hunt The People's Choice Incumbent since 2022Debbie MoraIndependent – Back to Common SenseIncumbent board member of the Waipuna Halswell-Hornby-Riccarton community boardTony SimonsIndependent – for RiccartonRiccarton Bush-Kilmarnock Residents Association chair and former journalistSam YauIndependent
Spreydon ward CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesMelanie CokerThe People's Choice – LabourIncumbent since 2019Terry Craze Centre-right. People-Powered VoicePreviously ran for council in 2022Tubby Hansen Leave Commonwealth, leave AnzusPerennial candidate since 1969. Also ran for mayor.Ben Yorston None
Central ward CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesHayley Guglietta Truly IndependentCommunity advocate Raf Manji Independent Former councillor for the Fendalton-Waimairi Ward from 2013 to 2016 and Waimairi Ward from 2016 to 2019 Jake McLellan Labour Incumbent since 2019Mace Reid Independent Tom Roud Alliance Library worker and union delegate
Cashmere ward CandidateAffiliation NotesClare MarksIndependentTim ScandrettIndependentIncumbent councillor
Linwood ward CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesEvan BakerIndependent Ethan GulleryIndependentYani JohansonThe People's Choice – LabourIncumbent since 2007
Heathcote ward CandidateAffiliation Notes Nathaniel Herz Jardine The People's Choice Living wage advocateIan KearneyIndependentLawyer
Banks Peninsula ward CandidateAffiliation NotesDave DunlayIndependent for Banks PeninsulaLocal media personality Tyrone Fields The People's Choice Incumbent since 2022
Withdrawn candidates James Daniels, former councillor for the Coastal Ward from 2019 to 2021 had announced in May that he was standing for council again. However, in late July he withdrew from the race citing a change to his personal circumstances.
Results
Summary
Composition WardPreviousElectedMayorPhil MaugerPhil MaugerBanks PeninsulaTyrone FieldsTyrone FieldsBurwoodKelly BarberKelly BarberCashmereTim ScandrettTim ScandrettCentralJake McLellanJake McLellanCoastalCeleste DonovanCeleste DonovanFendaltonJames GoughDavid CartwrightHalswellAndrei MooreAndrei MooreHarewoodAaron KeownAaron KeownHeathcoteSara TempletonNathaniel Herz JardineHornbyMark PetersMark PetersInnesPauline CotterPauline CotterLinwoodYani JohansonYani JohansonPapanuiVictoria HenstockVictoria HenstockRiccartonTyla Harrison-HuntTyla Harrison-HuntSpreydonMelanie CokerMelanie CokerWaimairiSam MacDonaldSam MacDonald retired
Mayor
Council Harewood ward
Waimairi ward
Papanui ward
Fendalton ward
Innes ward
Burwood ward
Coastal ward
Hornby ward
Halswell ward
Riccarton ward
Spreydon ward
Central ward
Cashmere ward
Linwood ward
Heathcote ward
Banks Peninsula ward
Notes
References