The 2025 Lower Hutt mayoral election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, as part of that year's council election and nation-wide local elections. Voters elected the mayor of Lower Hutt for the 2025–2028 term. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used. The incumbent mayor Campbell Barry did not seek re-election.
Ken Laban was elected as mayor, becoming New Zealand's first Pasifika 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 were published 16–19 October 2025: Final results were declared.
Background Incumbent mayor Campbell Barry decided not to seek re-election for a third term as mayor.
Candidates CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesBrady DyerIndependentCouncillor for the at-large ward since 2019. Also ran for re-election as a councillor.Ken LabanNoneGreater Wellington regional councillor for the Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency since 2013Karen Morgan IndependentCouncillor since 2022, and former principal of Taita CollegePrabha RaviIndependentFounder and artistic director of Natraj School of Dance. Also ran as a councillor for the at-large ward.
Mayoral results
Sports commentator and former councillor Fauono Ken Laban was elected mayor, becoming New Zealand's first Pasifika mayor.
Note
References