2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election

2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election
11 October 2025
Mayoral election
 
Candidate Janet Holborow Rob McCann Liz Koh
Affiliation Independent Independent Independent
Primary vote 6,721 4,744 3,027
Percentage 32.84% 23.16% 14.78%
Final vote 8,676 7,606 excluded
Percentage 53.29% 46.71%

 
Candidate Dean Harris Martin Halliday Kim Hobson
Affiliation We Love Kāpiti Independent Independent
Primary vote 2,291 1,976 1,345
Percentage 11.19% 9.65% 6.57%
Final vote excluded excluded excluded

Mayor before election

Janet Holborow
Independent

Elected mayor

Janet Holborow
Independent

Council election

10 seats on the Kāpiti Coast District Council
6 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent

9 −1
Te Pāti Māori

1 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

The 2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Kāpiti Coast 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 Kāpiti Coast, 10 district councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the Kāpiti Coast District Council. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system were used.

Incumbent mayor Janet Holborow won re-election to a second term.

The council voted to introduce a Māori ward for this election; in a referendum on its future held at this election (as part of a nation-wide series of referendums) voters elected to keep the Māori ward.

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.[1][2]

Background

Positions up for election

Voters in the district elected the mayor of Kāpiti Coast, 10 district councillors in 6 wards, and the members of 5 community boards (Ōtaki, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Raumati, and Paekākāriki).[3]

They also elected several members of the Greater Wellington Regional Council.[a][4]

Campaign

List of candidates

Incumbents not seeking re-election

  • Sophie Handford, councillor for the Paekākāriki-Raumati ward since 2019[5]
  • Kathy Spiers, incumbent councillor for the Paraparaumu ward,[6] instead ran for the Paraparaumu Community Board[7][8]

Mayor

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Martin Halliday Independent Incumbent councillor for the Paraparaumu ward.[6] Also ran for re-election as a councillor.[8]
Dean Harris We Love Kāpiti Also ran to be a councillor for the Waikanae general ward[10][8]
Kim Hobson Independent [8]
Janet Holborow Independent Incumbent mayor since 2022[11][12]
Liz Koh Independent Councillor for the at-large ward since 2022.[13][14][15] Also ran as a councillor.[8]
Rob McCann None Also ran to be a councillor for the at-large ward[8]

Councillors

Kapiti Coast Māori ward

The Kapiti Coast Māori ward returned one councillor to the district council.[16]

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Himiona Grace Te Pāti Māori
Rangi Halberd None
Jason Thurston New Zealand Māori Council and Paraparaumu Māori Committee
Brain Ruawai-Hamilton We Love Kāpiti [10]
Deanna Rudd None
Jordon Wansbrough None

Ōtaki general ward

The Ōtaki general ward returned one councillor to the district council.[16]

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Heniti Buick None Chief executive of Te Puna Oranga o Ōtaki[17][18]
Cam Butler Independent Incumbent Ōtaki Community Board chair[19][18]
Brent Frogley We Love Kāpiti [10]
Rob Kofoed None Incumbent councillor for the at-large ward[18][6]
Shelly Warwick Independent Incumbent councillor[18][6]

Waikanae general ward

The Waikanae general ward returned two councillors to the district council.[16]

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Peter Bollman Independent
Steven Botica None
Phil Byrne Independent
Martin Frauenstein We Love Kāpiti [10]
Dean Harris We Love Kāpiti Also ran for mayor[10]
Chris Maclean Independent
Michael Moore None
Jocelyn Prvanov Independent Incumbent councillor[6]
Nigel Wilson None Incumbent councillor[6]

Paraparaumu general ward

The Paraparaumu general ward returned three councillors to the district council.[16]

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Paul Baggott Independent
Glen Cooper Independent Incumbent councillor[6]
David Freeman None
Martin Halliday Independent Incumbent councillor.[6] Also ran for mayor.
Chris Harwood We Love Kāpiti [10]
Murray Lobb None
Euon Murrell Independent
Glen Olsen Independent
Bernie Randall Independent
Mark Souness Independent
Fiona Vining None

Paekākāriki-Raumati general ward

The Paekākāriki-Raumati general ward returned one councillor to the district council.[16]

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Zelda Edwards None
Bede Laracy Independent Chair of the Raumati Community Board[20]
Richard Young Independent Previously ran for council in 2022[21]

At-large ward

Two councillors were elected at-large to the district council.[16]

Candidate[7] Affiliation[b] Notes
Grant Bartlett Independent
Jackie Elliott Independent Incumbent Ōtaki community board member[19]
Lawrence Kirby Independent Incumbent deputy mayor since 2022[22][6]
Liz Koh Independent Incumbent councillor since 2022.[6] Also ran for mayor.
Rob McCann None Also ran for mayor
Jo Turner Independent
Joanne Welch We Love Kāpiti [10]
Gavin Welsh Independent
Marek Willis None

Results

Overall turnout was 46.9%, with 20,491 voting papers returned, an increase of 1.1% from the 2022 elections.[23]

With the final results, the following candidates were elected:[24][25]

Summary

Ward Previous Elected
Mayor Janet Holborow Janet Holborow
Districtwide Lawrence Kirby Rob McCann
Liz Koh Liz Koh
Rob Kofoed seat removed
Kāpiti Coast Māori new seat Himiona Nehua Grace
Ōtaki Shelly Warwick Heniti Buick
Paekākāriki-Raumati Sophie HandfordR Bede John Laracy
Paraparaumu Martin Halliday Martin Halliday
Glen Cooper Glen Cooper
Kathy SpiersR Glen Olsen
Waikanae Nigel Wilson Steve Botica
Jocelyn Prvanov Jocelyn Prvanov
R retired

Mayor

Incumbent mayor Janet Holborow won re-election to a second term, with Rob McCann coming in second-place.[26]

2025 Kāpiti Coast mayoral election[27][28]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Iteration vote Final %
Independent Janet Holborow 6,721 32.82 #5 8,676 53.29
Independent Rob McCann 4,744 23.16 #5 7,606 46.71
Independent Liz Koh 3,027 14.78 #4 3,910
We Love Kāpiti Dean Harris 2,291 11.19 #3 2,649
Independent Martin Halliday 1,976 9.65 #2 2,154
Independent Kim Hobson 1,345 6.57 #1 1,345
Quota 10,052 49.08 #5 8,141 50.00
Informal 27 0.13
Blank 350 1.71
Turnout 20,481
Registered
Independent hold on 5th iteration
incumbent

Kāpiti Coast at-large ward

At-large ward[27][28]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Iteration vote[c]
Independent Rob McCann 4,449 21.72 #7 6,273
Independent Liz Koh 4,209 20.55 #8 5,773
Independent Lawrence Kirby 4,053 19.79 #8 5,353
We Love Kāpiti Joanne Welch 2,186 10.67 #6 2,804
Independent Gavin Welsh 1,568 7.66 #5 2,016
Independent Jackie Elliott 1,308 6.39 #4 1,545
Independent Jo Turner 851 4.16 #3 952
Independent Grant Bartlett 531 2.59 #2 548
Independent Marek Willis 437 2.13 #1 437
Quota 6,531 31.89 #8 5,609
Informal 147 0.72
Blank 742 3.62
Turnout 20,481
Registered
Independent gain from Independent on 7th iteration
Independent gain from Independent on 8th iteration
incumbent

Ōtaki general ward

Ōtaki general ward[27][28]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Iteration vote
Independent Heniti Buick 973 34.47 #4 1,369
Independent Rob Kofoed 557 19.73 #4 937
Independent Cam Butler 494 17.50 #3 665
Independent Shelly Warwick 465 16.47 #2 296
We Love Kāpiti Brent Frogley 300 10.63 #1 300
Quota 1,395 49.42 #4 1,153
Informal 2 0.07
Blank 32 1.13
Turnout 2,823
Registered
Independent gain from Independent on 4th iteration
incumbent

Paekākāriki-Raumati general ward

Paekākāriki-Raumati general ward[27]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote %
Independent Bede Laracy 1,438 48.42
Independent Zelda Edwards 842 28.35
Independent Richard Young 570 19.19
Quota 1,425 47.98
Informal 2 0.07
Blank 118 3.97
Turnout 2,970
Registered
Independent gain from Independent on 1st iteration

Paraparaumu general ward

Paraparaumu general ward[27][28]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Iteration vote[c]
Independent Martin Halliday 1,353 18.68 #7 1,750
Independent Glen Cooper 1,229 16.97 #7 1,632
Independent Glen Olsen 730 10.08 #11 1,516
Independent Fiona Vining 738 10.19 #11 1,348
We Love Kāpiti Chris Harwood 693 9.57 #8 939
Independent Euon Murrell 593 8.19 #6 778
Independent Paul Baggott 537 7.41 #5 627
Independent Bernie Randall 351 4.85 #4 398
Independent Murray Lobb 330 4.56 #3 362
Independent Dave Freeman 272 3.76 #2 278
We Love Kāpiti Mark Souness 66 0.91 #1 66
Quota 1,723 23.79 #11 1,462
Informal 45 0.62
Blank 306 4.22
Turnout 7,243
Registered
Independent hold on 7th iteration
Independent hold on 7th iteration
Independent gain from Independent on 11th iteration
incumbent

Waikanae general ward

Waikanae general ward[27][28]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Iteration vote
Independent Steven Botica 1,079 17.12 #7 1,710
Independent Jocelyn Prvanov 1,071 17.00 #7 1,773
Independent Nigel Wilson 872 13.84 #7 1,502
Independent Michael Moore 669 10.62 #6 978
We Love Kāpiti Dean Harris 601 9.54 #5 876
Independent Chris MacLean 607 9.63 #4 760
Independent Phil Byrne 490 7.78 #3 579
Independent Peter Bollmann 398 6.32 #2 408
We Love Kāpiti Dean Harris 257 4.08 #1 257
Quota 2,015 31.98 #7 1,662
Informal 55 0.87
Blank 202 3.21
Turnout 6,301
Registered
Independent gain from Independent on 7th iteration
Independent hold on 7th iteration
incumbent

Kāpiti Coast Māori ward

Kāpiti Coast Māori ward[27][28]
Affiliation Candidate Primary vote % Iteration vote
Te Pāti Māori Himiona Grace 418 36.54 #5 514
Independent Deanna Rudd 432 37.76 #5 507
Independent Rangi Halbert 99 8.65 #4 127
We Love Kāpiti Brian Ruawai-Hamilton 75 6.56 #3 81
Independent Jason Thurston 60 5.24 #2 62
Independent Jordan Wansbrough 33 2.88 #1 33
Quota 559 48.86 #5 511
Informal 6 0.52
Blank 21 1.84
Turnout 1,144
Registered
Te Pāti Māori win (new ward) on 5th iteration

Māori ward referendum

ChoiceVotes%
Y I vote to keep the Māori ward10,79057.57
N I vote to remove the Māori ward7,95242.43
Total18,742100.00
Valid votes18,74291.51
Invalid/blank votes1,7398.49
Total votes20,481100.00
Source: [24]
Māori ward referendum results (excluding invalid votes)
Keep
10,790 (57.6%)
Remove
7,952 (42.4%)

50%

See also

Notes

  1. ^
    • 1 member from the district in the Kāpiti Coast general constituency.
    • 1 member partially from the district in the Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori constituency.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g A candidate may leave their affiliation blank, run as an independent, or run with an affiliation to an organisation, local body ticket or political party. Kāpiti Coast District Council does not allow election slogans to be used for the affiliation.[9]
  3. ^ a b Rounded to nearest whole number

References

  1. ^ "Vote". www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  2. ^ "Elections". www.gw.govt.nz. Greater Wellington Regional Council. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  3. ^ "FACT SHEET | WHĀRANGI MEKA" (PDF). www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Representation arrangements". www.gw.govt.nz. Greater Wellington Regional Council. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ^ Wong, Justin (28 April 2025). "Outgoing activist-turned-councillor has high hopes for local government". The Post. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Councillors". www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Candidates". www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Record Candidates List for Kapiti Elections". KC News – News from the Kāpiti Coast. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  9. ^ "KĀPITI COAST DISTRICT COUNCIL | 2025 CANDIDATE INFORMATION HANDBOOK" (PDF). www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. p. 13. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Candidates". welovekapiti.co.nz. We Love Kāpiti. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  11. ^ Wong, Justin (21 February 2025). "Kāpiti Coast mayor Janet Holborow seeks re-election". The Post. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Kāpiti Coast mayor Janet Holborow seeks re-election". KC News – News from the Kāpiti Coast. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  13. ^ Wong, Justin (17 March 2025). "Kāpiti Coast councillor Liz Koh challenges for mayor". The Post. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Liz Koh seeking election as mayor of Kapiti Coast". Wellington.Scoop. 14 March 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  15. ^ "Liz Koh joins Kapiti Mayoral race". KC News – News from the Kāpiti Coast. 15 March 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Determination" (PDF). www.lgc.govt.nz. Local Government Commission. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  17. ^ "Heniti 'proud to call Ōtaki home'". Ōtaki Today. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  18. ^ a b c d Carson, Ian (11 July 2025). "Four now vie for Ōtaki Ward". Ōtaki Today. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Ōtaki Community Board". www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Bede Laracy declares for Kapiti ward councillor position". KC News – News from the Kāpiti Coast. 16 April 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  21. ^ Wilson, Nigel (13 August 2022). "Richard Young stands for Paekākāriki-Raumati Ward seat". KC News – News from the Kāpiti Coast. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  22. ^ "Kapiti Deputy Mayor Lawrence Kirby Announces Re-election Bid". KC News – News from the Kāpiti Coast. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  23. ^ "What's new - Final results of Kāpiti Coast District Council election announced". www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  24. ^ a b "LGE2025 – Final" (PDF). www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  25. ^ "DECLARATION OF RESULTS OF ELECTION AND POLL" (PDF). www.kapiticoast.govt.nz. Kāpiti Coast District Council. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  26. ^ Wong, Justin (13 October 2025). "The victorious and vanquished of Wellington's local elections". The Post. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g "LGE2025 – Final" (PDF). Kāpiti Coast District Council. 17 October 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 February 2026.
  28. ^ a b c d e f "2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election - full iteration reports". Internet Archive. Kāpiti Coast District Council. 24 February 2026.