The 2025 Greater Wellington Regional Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Wellington region of New Zealand, as part of that year's regional council elections and other local elections held nation-wide. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system were used.
The Greater Wellington Regional Council makes decisions about environmental management, flood protection and land management, the provision of regional parks, public transport planning and funding, and metropolitan water supply for Greater Wellington.
The council introduced a Māori constituency for this election and, in a referendum on its future held alongside this election, as part of a nation-wide series of referendums, voters elected to keep the Māori constituency.
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 released 16–19 October 2025: Final results declared.
Background
Referendum
In October 2023, the Greater Wellington Regional Council voted to create a Māori constituency for the 2025 & 2028 elections.
In July 2024, the National-led coalition government passed the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 which reinstated the requirement that councils must hold a referendum before establishing Māori wards or constituencies. The council then voted unanimously in August 2024 to affirm their decision to establish the Māori constituency, thereby triggering a referendum on the constituency to be held alongside the 2025 local elections.
List of candidates Incumbents not seeking re-election David Bassett, councillor for the Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency Chris Kirk-Burnnand, councillor for the Porirua-Tawa constituency Ken Laban, councillor for the Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency, instead sought election for mayor in Lower Hutt David Lee, councillor for the Pōneke/Wellington constituency, instead sought election as a councillor for the Pukehīnau/Lambton ward of the Wellington City Council Thomas Nash, Green Party councillor for the Pōneke/Wellington constituency
Te Upoko o te ika a Māui Māori constituency Te Upoko o te ika a Māui Māori constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesShamia MakariniNone
As the only candidate, Makarini was elected unopposed to be the inaugural Te Upoko o te ika a Māui Māori constituency councillor.
Kāpiti Coast constituency The Kāpiti Coast constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.
Candidate PhotoAffiliation NotesSam FergusonNoneIncumbent Horizons Regional councillor. Green Party endorsed.Penny GaylorNoneIncumbent councillor
Porirua-Tawa constituency The Porirua-Tawa constituency returned two councillors to the regional council.
Candidate PhotoAffiliation NotesGrenville GaskellIndependentDaniel HicksIndependentClaire JohnstoneIndependentPhil RhodesNoneLand surveyor, and husband of Porirua mayor Anita BakerHikitia RopataIndependentIncumbent councillor
Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt constituency Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.
CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesRos ConnellyNoneIncumbent councillor
As the only candidate, Connelly was re-elected unopposed.
Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency returned three councillors to the regional council.
CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesQuentin DuthieGreenIncumbent councillorNigel ElderACT LocalBusiness owner and former New Zealand Defence Force servicemanOmar FaruqueIndependentMike FisherIndependentFormer chair of the Petone community boardTom MurphyIndependentMatt ShandNoneMike StevensonIndependentGabriel TupouIndependentIncumbent Hutt City councillor
Pōneke/Wellington constituency The Pōneke/Wellington constituency returned five councillors to the regional council.
Candidate PhotoAffiliation NotesSarah FreeIndependentIncumbent Wellington city councillor for the Motukairangi/Eastern ward since 2013Glenda HughesIndependent Former CouncillorFormer regional councillorAlice Claire HurdleACT LocalTom JamesLabourTom KayIndependentMark KelynackIndependentBelinda McFadgenNoneHenry PeachGreenDaran PonterLabourIncumbent councillor and council chairYadana SawGreenIncumbent councillorSimon WoolfIndependentIncumbent councillor
Wairarapa constituency The Wairarapa constituency returned one councillor to the regional council.
Candidate PhotoAffiliation NotesAlistair PlimmerNoneIncumbent South Wairarapa District councillorAdrienne StaplesIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2016
Results With the final results, the following candidates were declared elected:
Summary WardPreviousElectedKāpiti CoastPenny GaylorPenny GaylorPorirua-TawaHikitia RopataPhil RhodesChris Kirk-BurnnandClaire JohnstoneTe Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper HuttRos Connelly Ros ConnellyTe Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower HuttQuentin Duthie Quentin DuthieKen LabanGabiel TupouDavid BassettNigel ElderPōneke/Wellington Simon WoolfSimon WoolfDaran PonterDaran PonterYadana SawYadana Saw Thomas NashTom JamesDavid LeeSarah FreeWairarapaAdrienne StaplesAdrienne StaplesTe Upoko o te ika a Maui Māorinew seatShamia Makarini retired
Kāpiti Coast regional constituency
Porirua-Tawa regional constituency
Te Awa Kairangi ki Uta/Upper Hutt regional constituency
Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt regional constituency
Pōneke/Wellington regional constituency
Wairarapa regional constituency
Te Upoko o te ika a Maui Māori regional constituency
Māori constituency referendum
See also 2025 Wellington City Council election 2025 Porirua City Council election 2025 Upper Hutt City Council election 2025 Hutt City Council election 2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election
Notes
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