2025 Tasman District Council election
11 October 2025
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Mayoral election | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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14 seats on the Tasman District Council 8 seats needed for a majority | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2025 Tasman District Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Tasman 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 Tasman, 14 district councillors, and eight community board members for the 2025–2028 term of the Tasman District Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
Incumbent mayor Tim King won re-election to a third term.
A Māori ward was introduced for this election, won by Paul Morgan who was unopposed. 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
The following key dates apply for the 2025 local election:[1]
- 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates opened
- 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates closed at 12 noon
- 9 September 2025: Voting documents were posted and voting opened
- 11 October 2025: Voting closed at 12 noon and progress/preliminary results were published
- 17 October 2025: Final results were declared.
Background
Positions up for election
Voters in the district elected the mayor of Tasman, 14 district councillors in 5 wards, and the members of two community boards (Golden Bay and Motueka).[2]
The district has five geographical wards, which elect thirteen councillors: four councillors for Richmond, three for Moutere–Waimea, three for Motueka, two for Golden Bay, and one for Lakes–Murchison. The mayor and the one Māori ward councillor were elected at-large.
Representation
The council voted to establish a Māori ward for the 2025 local elections in 2023. The ward was named Te Tai o Aorere Māori and elected one councillor.[1]
The government passed legislation in 2024 on Māori wards that requires councils to hold a binding referendum alongside the 2025 elections if they established Māori wards without holding a referendum;[3] Council voted for the Māori ward to remain for the 2025 election.[4]
The council consulted in 2024 whether the ward representation should change.[5] The elected members decided to make one minor change, with the Totara View area located south of Wakefield shifting from the Lakes–Murchison ward to the Moutere–Waimea ward.[6][7]
Campaign
List of candidates
Incumbents not seeking re-election
- Stuart Bryant (Lakes–Murchison ward), incumbent deputy mayor and district councillor since a June 1999 by-election, retired at the 2025 election.[8][9][10]
- Barry Dowler, incumbent councillor for the Motueka ward[9][10]
- Chris Hill, incumbent councillor for the Golden Bay ward[11][10]
- Christeen Mackenzie, incumbent councillor for the Moutere / Waimea ward[11][10]
- Dan Shallcrass, incumbent councillor for the Moutere / Waimea ward[11][10]
Mayoral candidates
The first candidate for the mayoralty was Timo Neubauer, who declared his candidacy in early May 2025.[12]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maxwell Clark | None | Brother of Invercargill mayor Nobby Clark. Previously ran for the mayoralty in 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.[15] Also ran for mayor in Invercargill under the name Andrew Clark.[16][17][18] | ||
| Richard Johns | None | Retiree, and third-time mayoral candidate[18] | ||
| Tim King | None | Incumbent mayor since 2019[11][18][19] | ||
| Timo Neubauer | Independent | Urban designer who lives in Hope.[12] Also ran to be a councillor in the Richmond general ward.[18] | ||
| Richard Osmaston | None | Previously ran for the mayoralties of Westland, Grey, Buller, Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman in 2022.[20] Also ran to be a councillor in the Lakes-Murchison general ward,[18] and concurrently for the mayoralties of four other councils: Nelson, Buller, Grey and Westland.[21] | ||
Councillors
Te Tai o Aorere Māori ward
Te Tai o Aorere Māori ward returned one councillor to the district council.[22]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Morgan | None | CNZM (2022; for services to Māori and business)[23] | ||
Richmond general ward
Richmond general ward returned four councillors to the district council.[22]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Daikee | None | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| Jo Ellis | None | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| Mark Greening | Sensible, Affordable and Ethical | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| Kit Maling | Independent | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| Timo Neubauer | Independent | Also ran for mayor[18] | ||
| Daniel Shirley | ACT Local | [24][25] | ||
Motueka general ward
Motueka general ward returned three councillors to the district council.[22]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerryn Ferneyhough | None | |||
| Brent Maru | None | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| David Ross | ACT Local | [26][25] | ||
| Trindi Walker | None | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
Moutere-Waimea general ward
Moutere-Waimea general ward returned three councillors to the district council.[22]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julian Eggers | Independent | |||
| Michael Kininmonth | None | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| Dean McNamara | Sensible, Affordable and Ethical | Former two-term councillor who lost his seat in 2022[27] | ||
| Dave Woods | None | |||
Golden Bay general ward
Golden Bay general ward returned two councillors to the district council.[22]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rod Barker | None | |||
| Celia Butler | None | Incumbent councillor[11] | ||
| Axel Downard-Wilke | Independent | Transport planner, engineer and Wikipedian[28][29] | ||
| Julian Hall | None | [30] | ||
| Mark Hume | None | |||
Lakes-Murchison general ward
Lakes-Murchison general ward returned one councillor to the district council.[22]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicola Allan | None | |||
| John Gully | None | |||
| Richard Osmaston | None | Perennial candidate from the Money Free movement;[20] also standing for mayor.[18] | ||
Community boards
Tasman District Council has two community boards: one covering Golden Bay and the other for the Motueka ward. Four community board members were elected per board.[1]
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Appleby | Independent | |||
| Clarissa Bruning | None | |||
| Henry Dixon | Independent | Incumbent board member | ||
| Axel Downard-Wilke | Independent | Also ran to be a councillor for the Golden Bay general ward. | ||
| Grant Knowles | None | Incumbent board member | ||
| Mark Raffills | None | |||
| Rodney Ward | Independent | Local businessman[31] | ||
| Candidate[13] | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Hellyer | None | |||
| Claire Hutt | None | Incumbent board member | ||
| John Katene | None | |||
| Laura Lusk | None | |||
| David Ogilvie | None | Has previously served in various roles between 1971 and 2022.[32] | ||
Results
With the final results, the following candidates have been declared elected:[33]
Summary
| Ward | Previous | Elected | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Tim King | Tim King | ||
| Golden Bay | Celia Butler | Celia Butler | ||
| Chris HillR | Mark Hume | |||
| Lakes / Murchison | Stuart BryantR | John Gully | ||
| Motueka | Barry DowlerR | Kerryn Ferneyhough | ||
| Brent Maru | Brent Maru | |||
| Trindi Walker | Trindi Walker | |||
| Moutere / Waimea | Mike Kininmonth | Mike Kininmonth | ||
| Christine MackenzieR | Dean McNamara | |||
| Dan ShallcrassR | Dave Woods | |||
| Richmond | Glen Daikee | Timo Neubauer | ||
| Jo Ellis | Jo Ellis | |||
| Mark Greening | Mark Greening | |||
| Kit Maling | Kit Maling | |||
| Te Tai o Aorere Māori | New ward | Paul Morgan | ||
| R – an incumbent who did not run for re-election | ||||
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Tim King was elected to a third term, with Timo Neubauer coming in second place.[34]
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Tim King† | 10,209 | 50.51 | |
| Independent | Timo Neubauer | 4,127 | 20.42 | |
| Independent | Richard Johns | 3,931 | 19.45 | |
| Independent | Maxwell Clark | 1,220 | 6.04 | |
| Independent | Richard Osmaston | 357 | 1.77 | |
| Informal | 32 | 0.16 | ||
| Blank | 337 | 1.67 | ||
| Turnout | 20,213 | |||
| Registered | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| † incumbent | ||||
Council
Te Tai o Aorere Māori ward
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Paul Te Poa Karoro Morgan | Unopposed | |
| Registered | |||
| Independent win (new ward) | |||
Richmond general ward
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Jo Ellis† | 3,554 | ||
| Independent | Kit Maling† | 3,452 | ||
| Independent | Timo Neubauer | 3,413 | ||
| Sensible, Affordable and Ethical | Mark Greening† | 3,064 | ||
| ACT Local | Daniel Shirley | 3,052 | ||
| Independent | Glen Daikee† | 2,991 | ||
| Informal | 6 | |||
| Blank | 107 | |||
| Turnout | ||||
| Registered | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent | ||||
| Sensible, Affordable and Ethical gain from Independent[b] | ||||
| † incumbent | ||||
Motueka general ward
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Brent Maru† | 3,011 | ||
| Independent | Trindi Walker† | 2,592 | ||
| Independent | Kerryn Ferneyhough | 2,271 | ||
| ACT Local | Dave Ross | 1,714 | ||
| Informal | 0 | |||
| Blank | 45 | |||
| Turnout | ||||
| Registered | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent | ||||
| † incumbent | ||||
Moutere-Waimea general ward
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Dave Woods | 3,177 | ||
| Sensible, Affordable and Ethical | Dean McNamara | 2,771 | ||
| Independent | Mike Kinimonth† | 2,719 | ||
| Independent | Julian Eggers | 2,708 | ||
| Informal | 7 | |||
| Blank | 218 | |||
| Turnout | ||||
| Registered | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent | ||||
| Sensible, Affordable and Ethical gain from Independent | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| † incumbent | ||||
Golden Bay general ward
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Mark Hume | 1,110 | ||
| Independent | Celia Butler† | 1,041 | ||
| Independent | Axel Downard-Wilke | 898 | ||
| Independent | Julian Hall | 862 | ||
| Independent | Rodney Barker | 588 | ||
| Informal | 1 | |||
| Blank | 16 | |||
| Turnout | ||||
| Registered | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent | ||||
| Independent hold | ||||
| † incumbent | ||||
Lakes-Murchison general ward
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | John Gully | 622 | 49.25 | |
| Independent | Nicola Allan | 489 | 38.72 | |
| Independent | Richard Osmaston | 111 | 8.79 | |
| Informal | 11 | 0.87 | ||
| Blank | 30 | 2.38 | ||
| Turnout | 1,263 | |||
| Registered | ||||
| Independent gain from Independent | ||||
Māori ward referendum
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I vote to keep the Māori ward | 8,216 | 43.83 | |
| I vote to remove the Māori ward | 10,529 | 56.17 | |
| Total | 18,745 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 18,745 | 92.88 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,438 | 7.12 | |
| Total votes | 20,183 | 100.00 | |
| Source: [33] | |||
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. Tasman District Council does not allow election slogans to be used for the affiliation.[14]
- ^ Incumbent changed affiliation.
References
- ^ a b c "Candidate Handbook" (PDF). Tasman District Council. May 2025. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Elections". www.tasman.govt.nz. Tasman District Council. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Māori wards ultimatum for councils as coalition government imposes referendums". Radio New Zealand. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Gee, Samantha (5 September 2024). "Nelson, Tasman councils vote to retain Māori wards". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Frethey, Max (20 July 2024). "Two councillors, or not two councillors, that is the question for Golden Bay". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ Frethey, Max (4 October 2024). "The Tasman council ward that 'makes absolutely no sense' to remain". Stuff. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "Wakefield's Totara View To Join Moutere–Waimea Ward" (Press release). Richmond: Tasman District Council. Scoop. 26 March 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Sivignon, Cherie (1 November 2022). "Stuart Bryant re-elected as deputy mayor of Tasman District Council". Stuff. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b Ridout, Amy (24 February 2025). "Tasman council stalwarts standing down". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Hubbard, Catherine (5 August 2025). "Five Tasman elected members opt not to restand". Nelson Mail. The Press. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Your Mayor and Councillors". www.tasman.govt.nz. Tasman District Council. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ a b Frethey, Max (7 May 2025). "Tasman 'ready for change' – urban designer launches mayoral campaign". The Press. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "2025 Tasman District Council Election Candidates" (PDF). www.tasman.govt.nz. Tasman District Council. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Pukapuka Aratohu Kaitonopōti | Candidate Handbook. Tasman District Council. May 2025. p. 13.
- ^ Sivignon, Cherie (21 September 2022). "Maxwell Clark runs for Tasman mayoralty, his brother stands in Invercargill". Stuff. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Nobby Clark not impressed by brother's surprise mayoral bid". Stuff. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Fallow, Michael (1 August 2025). "Nobby Clark's brother standing for Invercargill and Tasman mayoralties". The Southland Times. The Press. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Hubbard, Catherine. "Tasman mayoral race hots up with five contenders in the ring". Nelson Mail. The Press. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Frethey, Max (12 August 2025). "King runs for Tasman mayor one last time". RNZ. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Meet the Nelson man running to be the mayor of six councils". Stuff. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ Nash, Joanne (5 August 2025). "Tough battles lie ahead for mayoral hopefuls". The Press. PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Representation Review". shape.tasman.govt.nz. Tasman District Council. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
- ^ "ACT Announces Daniel Shirley As ACT Local Candidate For Tasman" (Press release). ACT New Zealand. Scoop. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
- ^ a b Frethey, Max (22 July 2025). "ACT Runs Tasman Candidates, But Ex-MP Goes Independent In Nelson". Scoop. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "Retired Pharmacist And Business Owner, David Ross, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For Motueka Ward" (Press release). ACT New Zealand. Scoop. 24 June 2025.
- ^ Sivignon, Cherie (9 October 2022). "Five fresh faces feature in new-look Tasman District Council". Stuff. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ^ Evans, Julia (6 June 2019). "The Axel that keeps Chch moving". The Star. pp. 16, 18, 21. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
- ^ Deguara, Brittney (3 February 2020). "The Kiwis behind Wikipedia". Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Julian Hall For Tasman District Council - Golden Bay". julianhall4tdc.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ Hubbard, Catherine (17 July 2025). "No more summer markets for Tākaka's village green". Nelson Mail.
- ^ Sivignon, Cherie (28 July 2022). "Tasman district councillor David Ogilvie not seeking re-election". Stuff. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Election results". www.tasman.govt.nz. Tasman District Council. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Hubbard, Catherine (11 October 2025). "King returns for third term as Tasman mayor". Nelson Mail. The Press. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Election results". Tasman District Council. 17 October 2025.