2024 Tauranga City Council election

2024 Tauranga City Council election
20 July 2024
 
Candidate Mahé Drysdale Greg Brownless
Affiliation Independent Independent
Primary vote 10,147 5,785
Percentage 23.80% 13.57%
Final vote 16,606 10,510
 
Candidate Ria Hall Tina Salisbury
Affiliation Independent Independent
Primary vote 6,808 5,096
Percentage 15.97% 11.95%
Final vote eliminated eliminated
Mayor before election

Under commission

 Elected mayor

Mahé Drysdale
Independent

Council election
9 seats on the Tauranga City Council
6 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent

9
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 2024 Tauranga City Council election was a local election held from 29 June to 20 July in Tauranga, New Zealand, following the end of the crown commission. Voters elected the mayor of Tauranga and 9 city councillors, for the unusually quadrennial 2024–2028 term of the Tauranga City Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system was used.

Key dates

Key dates relating to the election were as follows:[1][2]

26 April Nominations opened
Preliminary electoral roll opened for inspection
24 May Nominations closed
Inspection of preliminary electoral roll closed
29 June Voting papers sent out
Start of voting period
20 July Final polling day
Progress result released
21 July Preliminary result released
23 July Final result released

Background

These were the first elections for the Tauranga City Council since 2019, following the appointment by the Minister of Local Government of a Crown Commission to oversee Tauranga City Council's governance responsibilities on 9 February 2021.[3]

The Tauranga City Council used the single transferable voting system to elect the Mayor of Tauranga and city councillors[4] for a term that will last until the 2028 local elections.[5][6]

Tauranga City Council created nine electoral wards for these elections. There were eight general wards (Mauao/Mount Maunganui, Arataki, Pāpāmoa, Welcome Bay, Matua-Otūmoetai, Bethlehem, Tauriko and Te Papa) and one Māori ward (Te Awanui, covering the entire city) which each returned one councillor.[4]

List of candidates

Nominations for candidates opened on 26 April 2024 and closed on 24 May 2024.[7] The following 86 candidates[8] have been confirmed to be running for the positions of mayor and the nine city councillors:[9]

Mayor

Main article: 2024 Tauranga mayoral election § Candidates

There were 14 candidates for mayor.[10]

Councillors

Te Awanui Māori ward

Candidate Affiliation
Suaree Borell Learning, Leading and Leveraging
Ashley Hillis None
Mikaere Sydney Tauranga Moana Kōkiritia

Arataki general ward

Candidate Affiliation
Sarah-Jane Bourne None
Rick Curach Pick Rick community needs over wants
Anthony Goddard None
Teresa Killian None
Adrienne Pierce None
Kim Renshaw Voice for Arataki
Jeroen Van der Beek A local for Arataki Ward
Andrea Webster Independent
Harris Williams None
Mike Williams Common sense on Council

Bethlehem general ward

Candidate Affiliation
Charlene Apaapa None
Shelley Archibald None
Felicity Auva'a Forward with Experience Energy Action
Darren Gilchrist None
Gerry Hodgson None
Jos Nagels Visionary Leadership, Not Repeatership
Bevan Rakoia None
John Robson[11] Principled; Professional; Democratic
Kevin (Herb) Schuler Constructive and Positive Leadership

Matua-Otūmoetai general ward

Candidate Affiliation Notes
Tanya Bamford-King Independent
Ronald Chamberlain None
Glen Crowther Accountability, Transparency, Community
Suzie Edmonds Independent
Cam Holden Independent
Jim McKinlay[12] None
Ken Patterson None
Basie Pikimaui Tauranga Moana Kōkiritia
Tenby Powell Our City. Our Future. Together Mayor 2019–2020
Kim Pritchard Independent
Mike Rayner For keeping our current facilities
Zach Reeder None
David Tank None
David Webb Tomorrow's thriving Tauranga, together

Mauao/Mount Maunganui general ward

Candidate Affiliation Notes
Heidi Hughes[11] Community, environment, future Councillor 2019–2020
Garth Mathieson None
Teresa Nichols Independent
Michael O'Neill Independent
Jacqueline Pointon None
Jen Scoular Commercial acumen, community heart
Peter Douglas Stanley None

Pāpāmoa general ward

Candidate Affiliation Notes
Bryan Archer None
John Bowden None
Phillip Coleman None
Ria Hall[12] None
Tim Maltby Our Rates are too High
Steve Morris Championing Pāpāmoa on Council Former councillor[13]
Maaka Nelson None
Craig Purcell Pāpāmoa Pāpāmoa Proud
Shelley Robb Independent

Tauriko general ward

Candidate Affiliation Notes
Larry Baldock Let's Keep Moving Forward Former deputy mayor[11]
Murray Guy[14] Democracy for Tauranga
Marten Rozeboom[12] None
Stephen Wheeler None

Te Papa general ward

Candidate Affiliation
Andrew Caie Independent
Mark Decke None
Chudleigh Haggett None
Reihana Marx None
Terry Molloy None
Jim Smith Loyal and Local
Rod Taylor Tauranga True
Barbara Turley None
Abraham (Bram) van Berkel None

Welcome Bay general ward

Candidate Affiliation
Hautapu Baker Healthy Environment Thriving Community
Aureliu Braguta None
Ethan Brinkman Ethan for Reason
Robert Coe Independent
Donna Hannah None
Cameron Templer Action over Words

Results

The official results of the election were released on 25 July.[15] Voter turnout was 38.77%,[16] which compares with a turnout of 40.28% at the 2019 election.[17] Only one woman, Jen Scoular for the Mauao/Mount Maunganui ward, was elected to the council.[17] Two former councillors, Steve Morris and Rick Curach, were re-elected.[17]

Mikaere Sydney was elected as councillor for Tauranga's first Māori ward Te Awanui, which the Tauranga commission had confirmed at a meeting in April 2021 following the passage of the Local Electoral (Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2021. Te Awanui is at risk of dissolution due to the National-led coalition government requiring local councils to hold binding referendums on Māori wards.[18]

Summary

Winning candidate Position Ward
Mahé Drysdale Mayor At-large
Jen Scoular Councillor Mauao/Mount Maunganui
Glen Crowther Councillor Matua-Otūmoetai
Rod Taylor Councillor Te Papa
Kevin "Herb" Schuler Councillor Bethlehem
Marten Rozeboom Councillor Tauriko
Hautapu Baker Councillor Welcome Bay
Rick Curach Councillor Arataki
Steve Morris Councillor Pāpāmoa
Mikaere Sydney Councillor Te Awanui

Mayor

Main article: 2024 Tauranga mayoral election § Results

Mahé Drysdale was elected, defeating Greg Brownless after 14 iterations. Ria Hall came second on the primary vote but was eliminated in the 13th iteration. Tina Salisbury was the only other candidate to get over 10% of the primary vote.

Mauao/Mount Maunganui general ward

Mauao/Mount Maunganui general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Jen Scoular 1,757 2,025
Independent Heidi Hughes 863 1,022
Independent Garth Mathieson 745 950
Independent Michael O'Neill 192
Independent Jacqueline Pointon 191
Independent Peter Douglas Stanley 192
Independent Teresa Nichols 97
Valid 4,351
Informal 37
Blank 81
Total 4,469
Registered 10,933
Independent win

Matua-Otūmoetai general ward

Matua-Otūmoetai general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Glen Crowther 1,582 2,523
Independent Tenby Powell 1,385 1,975
Independent Cam Holden 808
Independent David Matthew Webb 686
Independent Suzie Edmonds 306
Independent Ken Patterson 274
Independent Tanya Bamford-King 262
Independent Mike Rayner 241
Independent Jim McKinlay 120
Independent Kim Pritchard 80
Independent Zach Reeder 74
Independent Basie Pikimaui 48
Independent Ronald Chamberlain 46
Independent David Tank 38
Valid 5,950
Informal 35
Blank 72
Total 6,057
Registered 13,219
Independent win

Te Papa general ward

Te Papa general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Rod Taylor 726 1,287
Independent Andrew Caie 765 1,182
Independent Terry Molloy 465
Independent Barbara Turley 404
Independent Jim Smith 365
Independent Mark Decke 323
Independent Reihana Marx 205
Independent Chudleigh Haggett 181
Independent Abraham van Berkel 169
Valid 3,603
Informal 45
Blank 123
Total 3,771
Registered 11,132
Independent win

Bethlehem general ward

Bethlehem general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Kevin "Herb" Schuler 1,544 2,349
Independent Darren Gilchrist 1,042 1,763
Independent John Robson 1,033
Independent Felicity Jane Auva'a 459
Independent Shelley Archibald 436
Independent Charlene Apaapa 332
Independent Jos Nagels 280
Independent Bevan Rakoia 248
Independent Gerry Hodgson 157
Valid 5,531
Informal 29
Blank 136
Total 5,696
Registered 12,923
Independent win

Tauriko general ward

Tauriko general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Marten Rozeboom 1,885 2,182
Independent Larry Baldock 1,060 1,133
Independent Murray Guy 724 800
Independent Stephen Wheeler 636
Valid 4,305
Informal 56
Blank 183
Total 4,544
Registered 12,071
Independent win

Welcome Bay general ward

Welcome Bay general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Hautapu Baker 2,125 2,559
Independent Cameron Templer 1,457 1,909
Independent Aureliu Braguta 801
Independent Robert Coe 390
Independent Ethan Brinkman 226
Independent Donna Hannah 187
Valid 5,073
Informal 40
Blank 146
Total 5,259
Registered 13,421
Independent win

Arataki general ward

Arataki general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Rick Curach 1,200 1,894
Independent Kim Renshaw 794 1,724
Independent Harris Williams 615
Independent Mike Williams 552
Independent Jeroen van der Beek 418
Independent Anthony Goddard 359
Independent Andrea Webster 316
Independent Teresa Killian 202
Independent Sarah-Jane Bourne 157
Valid 5,224
Informal 49
Blank 69
Total 5,342
Registered 13,006
Independent win

Pāpāmoa general ward

Pāpāmoa general ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Final vote[a]
Independent Steve Morris 1,273 1,818
Independent Tim Maltby 1,122 1,616
Independent Ria Hall 838
Independent Maaka Nelson 591
Independent Bryan Archer 386
Independent Phil Coleman 272
Independent Shelley Robb 109
Independent John Bowden 96
Valid 4,687
Informal 26
Blank 69
Total 4,782
Registered 13,735
Independent win

Te Awanui Māori ward

Te Awanui Māori ward
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote %
Independent Mikaere Sydney 1,515
Independent Suaree Borell 754
Independent Ashley Hillis 207
Valid 2,476
Informal 82
Blank 134
Total 2,692
Registered 8,941
Independent win

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Rounded to whole number.

References

  1. ^ Lampp, Warwick. "Notice of elections for Tauranga City Council" (PDF). Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Elections 2024". Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  3. ^ Ingoe, Maia (26 April 2024). "Nominations open for Tauranga City Council local elections". RNZ. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Elections 2024 > Information for voters". www.tauranga.govt.nz. Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Wanted: candidates for council's 2024 election – The Bay's News First". www.sunlive.co.nz. SunMedia. 4 February 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Dates for the Tauranga City Council Election in July 2024 and the Following Election". New Zealand Gazette. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Elections 2024 > Information for candidates". www.tauranga.govt.nz. Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  8. ^ Evans, Alisha (24 May 2024). "Tauranga City Council election hopefuls confirmed". SunLive. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Elections 2024". www.tauranga.govt.nz. Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  10. ^ Lampp, Warwick. "Further Notice of Local Authority Elections" (PDF). Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Gillespie, Kiri (14 May 2024). "Tauranga City Council election: Several sacked councillors running again". New Zealand Herald.
  12. ^ a b c McConnell, Glenn. "Tauranga's star studded return to democracy". www.stuff.co.nz. Stuff. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  13. ^ Evans, Alisha (17 May 2024). "Tauranga City Council nominations off to a slow start". RNZ. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  14. ^ Gillespie, Kiri (21 May 2024). "Tauranga election: Murray Guy criticised for handling of user's 'barcode' comment on his page". Bay of Plenty Times. New Zealand Herald.
  15. ^ "Elections 2024". Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  16. ^ "2024 Council Elections DECLARATION OF RESULT" (PDF). Tauranga City Council. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  17. ^ a b c Wilson, Megan (21 July 2024). "Mount Maunganui's Jen Scoular only woman elected in Tauranga City Council 2024 election". Bay of Plenty Times. The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Tauranga's first Māori ward councillor Mikaere Sydney undergoing medical treatment in hospital". The New Zealand Herald. 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
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