The 2025 Hastings District Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Hastings District of New Zealand, as part of that year's territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected the mayor of Hastings and 15 district councillors for the 2025–2028 term of the Hastings District Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
Councillor Wendy Schollum won the mayoralty, with fellow councillor Marcus Buddo coming in second-place.
The council introduced a Māori ward at the 2022 election; in a referendum on its future held at this election (as part of a nation-wide series of referendums) voters elected to remove the Māori ward for future elections.
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 elected fifteen councillors in six wards, as well as the mayor of Hastings. Voters that live in the rural communities of the district also elected members of the Rural Community Board, and six members of a licensing trust were elected by residents of the suburb of Flaxmere.
Voters across the district also elected six members of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.
Cyclone Gabrielle The wider Hawke's Bay region was devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 and the affects of it were still being felt in the district in 2025.
Pre-election report Under the Local Government Act 2002, councils must compile a pre-election report to be published and made available to voters. This report details the council's financial position, issues affected the district, and other important factors to consider when voting. The report is prepared by the chief executive of the council, independent of the mayor and councillors. Campaign
Mayor Incumbent mayor Sandra Hazlehurst announced in May that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term. By May, councillor Marcus Buddo had announced his candidacy for mayor, and councillor Damon Harvey was considering it.
Buddo is a 30 year old, fourth generation farmer from Poukawa. Buddo emphasised reducing rates, handling the council's growing debt, cyclone recovery, and housing affordability as key issues for him. Buddo says he has degrees in economics, public health, and politics.
Third-term incumbent councillor Wendy Schollum announced her candidacy for mayor, launching her campaign on 24 June at St Andrew's Hall. She would campaign on creating a "smarter" council structure, better housing, and improving the local economy.
Damon Harvey, a third-term incumbent councillor, also announced he would run for mayor; his second attempt. He said a priority was reducing cost to ratepayers. He said he was supported in his bid by Graeme Avery, Malcolm Dixon, Henare O’Keefe, Geraldine Travers, Ann Redstone, Luke Irving and Robyn McLean.
Māori wards referendum The council had voted unanimously in August 2024 to keep Māori wards in the district. This triggered a referendum to be held alongside the 2025 local elections, per the conditions of legislation passed by the incumbent National government. Mayor Hazlehurst, who was pro-Māori wards, lamented the government's decision to require Māori wards. "We know our community and we should be trusted to make that decision", she said. In 2021, the council asked residents and 76% of responses came back in support of Māori wards.
A group called For Wards Hawke’s Bay formed to support the pro-ward position at the referendums in the wider Hawke's Bay region. The group held a meeting on 23 July in Clive chaired by regional council chair Rex Graham, with various speakers including local Presbyterian minister Jill McDonald, Māori ward councillor Heather Te Au-Skipworth, HB Multicultural Society president Rizwaana Latiff and Hayley Whittaker from the Public Service Association.
Hawke's Bay Today asked the mayoral candidates whether they supported the group; Harvey said he supported any group that wanted to get the community engaged on important issues, Schollum said she supported Māori wards, Buddo said he was personally voting no on Māori wards but supported the group existing, Gibson said he didn't support Māori wards because they are undemocratic, and Wilson said he would support whatever the outcome of the referendum was.
Debates and forums Hastings Grey Power hosted a meet-the-candidates meeting on 7 August in Duart House in Havelock North. It held a second event on 5 September at the Baptist Church Hall in Hastings.
The Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce held a mayoral forum on 28 August at Hastings Boy's High School in Hastings. All five mayoral candidates confirmed they would attend.
List of candidates
Incumbents not seeking re-election Ana Apatu, incumbent councillor for the Takitimu Māori ward since 2022 Sandra Hazlehurst, mayor since 2017 and councillor since 2010. Tania Kerr, incumbent deputy mayor and councillor since 2008 Malcolm Dixon, councillor since 2013
Mayor CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesMarcus BuddoNoneCouncillor for the Kahurānaki ward since 2022Steve GibsonKeeping rate rises to inflation (CPI)Former Manawatū District councillor from 2007 to 2013. Also ran for councillor in the Hastings-Havelock North general ward.Damon HarveyAccountable to YouIncumbent councillor since 2016, also ran in 2019.Wendy SchollumProven Leadership – Fresh ThinkingIncumbent councillor since 2017Darrin WilsonNoneLocal businessman. Also ran for councillor in the Hastings-Havelock North general ward.
Council Takitimu Māori ward Takitimu Māori ward returned three councillors to the district council. CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesSiiam DanielNoneSarah GreeningNonePreviously ran for council in 2022Kellie JessupNoneIncumbent councillor since 2022Bevan O’ConnorIndependentLawyer and owner of VisaMax NZHeather Te Au-SkipworthNoneIncumbent councillor since 2024
Flaxmere general ward Flaxmere general ward returned one councillor to the district council.
CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesHenry HekeNoneIncumbent councillor since 2022Henare O'KeefeNoneFormer councillor
Hastings/Havelock North general ward Hastings/Havelock North general ward returned seven councillors to the district council.
CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesSayeed AhmedNonePreviously ran for council in 2022John BennettNoneMichael FowlerIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2022Gareth (Gus) FreemanKeep rate rises to inflation (cpi)Steve GibsonKeeping rate rises to inflation (CPI)Former Manawatū District councillor from 2007 to 2013. Also ran for mayor.Bernard HickeyIndependentRizwaana (Riz) LatiffIndependentPreviously ran for council in 2019 and 2022Yvonne LorkinYour Eyes, Ears and Energy in CouncilLucie-Jane McElweeFair rate rises = inflation rateSimon J H NixonIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2010Nick RatcliffeNoneGreen Party endorsed. Green candidate for Tukituki in the 2023 general election.Rion RobenNonePreviously ran for council in 2022Callum RossIndependentJacqueline SupraNone (CARE for Hastings)Debbie WardListen. Learn. Advocate.Kevin Watkins NoneIncumbent councillor since 2001Darrin WilsonNoneAlso ran for mayor
Heretaunga general ward Heretaunga general ward returned two councillors to the district council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesAlwyn CorbanNoneIncumbent councillor since 2019Hana Montaperto-HendryNoneIncumbent councillor since 2024
As the number of candidates did not exceed the number of positions available, Corban and Montaperto-Hendry were elected unopposed.
Kahurānaki general ward Kahurānaki general ward returned one councillor to the district council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesElisha MilmineNoneFormer Hawke's Bay A&P Society general manager
As the only candidate, Milmine was elected as the councillor for the Kahurānaki general ward unopposed.
Mōhaka general ward Mōhaka general ward returned one councillor to the district council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesPagen GoldstoneNoneFarmerDerek Nowell-UstickeNone (CARE for Hastings)Kirsty Scott-McLeanNone
Withdrawn candidates Zack Makoare, was initially listed among the confirmed candidates for the Kahurānaki general ward, but later withdrew his candidacy indicating that his circumstances had changed.
Opinion polling Mayor Date Polling organisationSample size Buddo Gibson Harvey Schollum Wilson Undecided 8 September Curia500 25% 9% 14% 12% 3% 28%
Results
Mayor Councillor Wendy Schollum won the mayoralty, with fellow councillor Marcus Buddo coming in second-place.
Mōhaka general ward
Heretaunga general ward
Hastings-Havelock North general ward
Flaxmere general ward
Kahurānaki general ward
Takitimu Māori ward
Māori Ward Poll
See also 2025 Napier City Council election 2025 Hawke's Bay Regional Council election
Notes
References