The 2025 Upper Hutt City Council election was a local election to be held from 9 September to 11 October in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, as part of that year's territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected the mayor of Upper Hutt, 10 city councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the Upper Hutt City Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
Urban planner and transport advisor Peri Zee won the mayoralty. Zee defeated the incumbent of 24 years Wayne Guppy, who had been seeking a ninth term as mayor.
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 published 16–19 October 2025: Final results declared.
Background
Positions up for election Voters in the city elected the mayor of Upper Hutt, 10 city councillors, and members of the Rimutaka Licensing Trust. They also elected several members of the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Māori ward In November 2023, the Upper Hutt City Council had voted by six to five to introduce a Māori ward for the 2025 and 2028 elections. However, following a change in legislation regarding Māori wards, the council voted in August 2024 to rescind this decision. It thus avoided a requirement to hold a referendum on retaining the ward alongside this election.
Campaign
List of candidates Incumbents not seeking re-election Dylan Bentley, councillor since 2019 Chris Carson, incumbent councillor Incumbent councillor Blair Griffiths ran for mayor and did not stand again for a position as councillor
Mayor CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesBlair GriffithsNoneIncumbent councillorWayne GuppyNoneIncumbent mayor since 2001Emma HoldernessIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2022. Also ran for re-election as a councillor.Angela McLeodNonePreviously ran for the mayoralty in 2022. Also ran to be a councillor.Hellen SwalesChange we need, voice you deserveIncumbent deputy mayor, also ran as a councillorPeri ZeeNoneUrban planner and transport adviser
Councillors Ten councillors were elected at-large to the city council. CandidateAffiliation NotesRamil AdhikariNonePreviously ran for council in 2022Michael J AndersonNoneEuan AndrewsNoneHeather BlissettNoneDave BurtHope resilience and a shared futureMatt CareyIndependentIncumbent councillorWade CashmoreIndependentGurpreet DhillonNoneHenry GreyNoneTofa GushOur CommunityBill HammondIndependentIncumbent councillorEmma HoldernessIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2022. Also ran for mayor.Teresa HomanIndependentRachel Tukaki KingiNoneNigel ManderServe the communityKylie McKennaIndependentAngela McLeodNoneAlso ran for mayorDavid (DJ) McNicholasNoneHeather NewellNoneIncumbent councillorHellen SwalesThe voice you deserveIncumbent deputy mayor, also ran for mayorBrett ThomsonNoneTracey UltraIndependentIncumbent councillorDaniel WelchBacking the Future of Upper HuttDave WheelerNoneIncumbent councillorCorey WhiteIndependent
Results
Overall turnout was 50.06%, with 16,728 voting papers returned.
With final results, the following candidates were declared elected:
Mayor In an upset, urban planner and transport advisor Peri Zee defeated incumbent mayor of 24 years Wayne Guppy, who had been seeking a ninth term in office.
Council
See also 2025 Greater Wellington Regional Council election 2025 Hutt City Council election 2025 Wellington City Council election 2025 Porirua City Council election 2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election
Notes
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