Wikipedia

Results of the 2025 New Zealand territorial authority elections in the Bay of Plenty

(Redirected from 2025 Whakatāne District Council election)

Elections for the territorial authorities of New Zealand were held from 9 September until 11 October 2025 as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. 709 local councillors and 66 mayors were elected across 66 of 67 councils.

2025 New Zealand territorial authority elections
(Bay of Plenty)
← 2022
11 October 2025
2028 →
5 of 6 local councils
Party Councils +/–
No majority 5 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
5 mayors and 44 local councillors
Party Seats +/–
Mayors
Independent 4 −1
Independent Green 1 +1
Local councillors
Independent 43 0
Te Pāti Māori 1 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

6 territorial authorities are primarily located within the Bay of Plenty Region. Tauranga did not hold elections as the city had elections last year. 5 mayors and 44 district councillors were elected.

Summary

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Western Bay of Plenty District Council

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2025 Western Bay of Plenty District Council election
← 2022
11 October 2025
2028 →
Turnout15,301 (37.95%)
Mayoral election
 
Candidate James Denyer Margaret Murray-Benge Rodney Joyce
Affiliation Independent Independent Independent
Popular vote 4,424 2,737 1,890
Percentage 28.92% 17.89% 12.35%
 
Candidate Grant Dally Don Thwaites John Holyoake
Affiliation Independent Independent Independent
Popular vote 1,743 1,596 1,191
Percentage 11.39% 10.43% 7.79%
 
Candidate Suaree Borell
Affiliation Independent
Popular vote 951
Percentage 6.22%
Mayor before election

James Denyer
Independent

 Elected mayor

James Denyer
Independent

Council election
9 seats on the Western Bay of Plenty District Council
5 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent 9 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

2025 Western Bay of Plenty mayoral election

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2025 Western Bay of Plenty mayoral election[1]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent James Denyer† 4,424 28.92
Independent Margaret Murray-Benge 2,737 17.89
Independent Rodney Joyce 1,890 12.35
Independent Grant Dally 1,743 11.39
Independent Don Thwaites 1,596 10.43
Independent John Holyoake 1,191 7.79
Independent Suaree Borell 951 6.22
Independent Danielle Borell-Faa'soo 295 1.93
Informal 57 0.37
Blank 414 2.71
Turnout 15,298 (37.94)
Registered 40,318
Independent hold
† incumbent

Katikati-Waihī Beach general ward

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Katikati-Waihī Beach general ward[1]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent Allan Sole† 2,036
Independent Rodney Joyce† 1,919
Independent John Clements 1,350
Independent Andy Earl 1,315
Independent Wayne Stevenson 1,205
Independent Candice Thomas 559
Informal 16
Blank 93
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
Independent hold
† incumbent

Maketu-Te Puke general ward

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Maketu-Te Puke general ward[1]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent Shane Beech 2,147
Independent Grant Dally† 2,068
Independent Laura Rae† 1,550
Independent Andy Wichers† 1,416
Independent Manvir Singh Mann 1,025
Independent John Bowden 783
Informal 2
Blank 75
Turnout
Registered
Independent gain from Independent
Independent hold
Independent hold
† incumbent

Kaimai general ward

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Kaimai general ward[1]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent Margaret Murray-Benge† 2,419
Independent Tracey Coxhead† 2,383
Independent Graeme Elvin 2,039
Independent Murray Grainger† 1,909
Independent Don Thwaites† 1,875
Independent Chris Dever 1,867
Independent Drew Cowley 681
Independent Danielle Borell-Faa'soo 460
Independent Destiny Leaf 456
Informal 3
Blank 88
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
Independent hold
Independent gain from Independent
† incumbent

Waka Kai Uru Māori ward

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Waka Kai Uru Māori ward[1]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent Darlene Dinsdale 531 37.69
Independent Carlton Bidois 421 29.88
Independent Suaree Borell 421 29.88
Informal 1 0.07
Blank 35 2.48
Turnout 1,409
Registered
Independent win (new ward)

Rotorua Lakes Council

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2025 Rotorua Lakes Council election
← 2022
11 October 2025
2028 →
Turnout21,796 (43.20%)
Mayoral election
 
Candidate Tania Tapsell Don Paterson
Affiliation Independent Independent
Popular vote 12,380 2,952
Percentage 56.80% 13.54%
 
Candidate Don Paterson Haehaetu
Affiliation Independent Independent
Popular vote 2,822 2,752
Percentage 12.95% 12.63%
Mayor before election

Tania Tapsell
Independent

 Elected mayor

Tania Tapsell
Independent

Council election
10 seats on the Rotorua Lakes Council
6 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent 9 0
Te Pāti Māori 1 +1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

2025 Rotorua mayoral election

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2025 Rotorua mayoral election[2]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent Tania Tapsell† 12,380 56.80
Independent Don Paterson 2,952 13.54
Independent Robert Lee 2,822 12.95
Independent Haehaetu Barrett 2,752 12.63
Independent Takeina Fraser 468 2.15
Informal 35 0.16
Blank 386 1.77
Turnout 21,795 43.20
Registered 50,452
Independent hold
† incumbent

Rural general ward

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Rural general ward[2]
Affiliation Candidate Vote
Independent Karen Barker† Unopposed
Registered
Independent hold
† incumbent

Te Ipu Wai Auraki general ward

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Te Ipu Wai Auraki general ward[2]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Independent Fisher Wang† 7,199
Independent Sandra Kai Fong† 6,915
Independent Ben Sandford 6,686
Independent Gregg Brown† 5,421
Independent Don Paterson† 4,850
Independent Robert Lee† 4,555
Independent Philly Angus 4,298
Independent Conan O'Brien† 4,282
Independent Ryan Gray 4,259
Independent Jenny Chapman 3,901
Residents and Ratepayers Reynold MacPherson 3,851
Independent Brendan Davis 3,379
Independent Jared Adams 2,246
Independent Mathew Doidge 2,104
Independent Pam Neilson 2,067
Independent Mariana Morrison 1,995
Independent Neville Raethel 1,715
Independent Frank "The Tank" Grapl 1,356
Independent Richard Collins 1,306
Independent Rahul Sethi 1,257
Independent Takeina Fraser 711
Independent Jason Monahan 638
Informal 48
Blank 133
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
Independent hold
Independent gain from Residents & Ratepayers
Independent hold
Independent hold
Independent hold
† incumbent

Te Ipu Wai Taketake Māori ward

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Te Ipu Wai Taketake Māori ward[2]
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
Te Pāti Māori Te Rika Temara-Benfell 2,768
Independent Trevor Maxwell† 2,739
Independent Merepeka Raukawa-Tait 2,328
Independent Rawiri Waru† 2,266
Independent Harina Rupapera 1,308
Independent Te Whatanui Skipwith 1,284
Informal 1
Blank 42
Turnout
Registered
Te Pāti Māori gain from Independent
Independent hold
Independent gain from Independent
† incumbent

Whakatāne District Council

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2025 Whakatāne District Council election
← 2022
11 October 2025
2028 →
Mayoral election
 
Candidate Nándor Tánczos Victor Luca
Affiliation Independent Green Independent
Popular vote 3,713 3,569
Mayor before election

Victor Luca
Independent

 Elected mayor

Nandor Tanczos
Independent Green

Council election
10 seats on the Whakatāne District Council
6 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent 10 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

2025 Whakatāne mayoral election

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2025 Whakatāne mayoral election[3][4]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Green Nándor Tánczos 3,713
Independent Victor Luca† 3,569
Independent Mark Inman 1,698
Independent Andrew Iles 1,559
Independent Philip Jacobs 1,317
Independent Wilson James 834
Informal
Blank
Turnout
Registered
Independent Green gain from Independent
† incumbent

Whakatāne-Ōhope general ward

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Whakatāne-Ōhope general ward[3]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Carolyn Hamill 4,211
Independent Lesley Immink† 3,225
Independent Julie Jukes† 3,033
Independent Malcolm Whitaker 2,575
Independent Brendan Horan 2,413
Independent Chris Barnard 2,084
Independent Dave Stewart 1,994
Informal
Blank
Turnout
Registered
Independent gain from Independent
Independent hold
Independent hold
Independent gain from Independent
† incumbent

Te Urewera general ward

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Te Urewera general ward[3]
Affiliation Candidate Vote
Independent Andrew Iles† Unopposed
Registered
Independent hold
† incumbent

Rangitāiki general ward

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Rangitāiki general ward[3]
Affiliation Candidate Vote
Independent Gavin Dennis† Unopposed
Independent Wilson James† Unopposed
Registered
Independent hold
Independent hold
† incumbent

Rangitāiki Māori ward

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Rangitāiki Māori ward[3]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Tu O'Brien† 660
Independent Rihi Vercoe 385
Informal
Blank
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
† incumbent

Kāpū-te-rangi Māori ward

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Kāpū-te-rangi Māori ward[3]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Toni Boynton† 779
Independent Hiria Wallace 228
Informal
Blank
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
† incumbent

Toi ki Uta Māori ward

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Toi ki Uta Māori ward[3]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Jesse Morgan-Ranui 807
Independent Glenn McGahan 239
Informal
Blank
Turnout
Registered
Independent gain from Independent

Kawerau District Council

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2025 Kawerau District Council election
← 2022
11 October 2025
2028 →
Mayoral election
 
Candidate Faylene Tunui Carolyn Ion
Affiliation Independent Independent
Popular vote 1,663 660
Percentage 70.91% 28.14%
Mayor before election

Faylene Tunui
Independent

 Elected mayor

Faylene Tunui
Independent

Council election
8 seats on the Kawerau District Council
5 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent 8 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

2025 Kawerau mayoral election

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2025 Kawerau mayoral election[5]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Faylene Tunui† 1,663 70.91
Independent Carolyn Ion 660 28.14
Informal 0 0.00
Blank 22 0.94
Turnout 2,345
Registered
Independent hold
† incumbent

At-large

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At-large[5]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Sela Kingi† 1,397
Independent Joyce Julian 1,332
Independent Carolyn Ion 1,086
Independent Wayne Andrews 462
Informal 11
Blank 31
Turnout
Registered
Independent win (new ward)
Independent win (new ward)
† incumbent

Kawerau general ward

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Kawerau general ward[5]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Justin Ross† 1,083
Independent Anthony Worsley 838
Independent Tracy Hill 643
Independent Melissa Drummond 307
Informal 2
Blank 24
Turnout
Registered
Independent win (new ward)
Independent win (new ward)
Independent win (new ward)
† incumbent

Kawerau Māori ward

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Kawerau Māori ward[5]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Waikite Apiata 667
Independent Gloria Leokaava-Taani 493
Independent Mal Dowie 453
Independent Lyzette Howard 407
Informal 1
Blank 8
Turnout
Registered
Independent win (new ward)
Independent win (new ward)
Independent win (new ward)

Ōpōtiki District Council

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2025 Ōpōtiki District Council election
← 2022
11 October 2025
2028 →
Mayoral election
 
Candidate David Moore Curley Keno
Affiliation Independent Independent
Popular vote 2,141 786
Percentage 71.97% 26.42%
Mayor before election

David Moore
Independent

 Elected mayor

David Moore
Independent

Council election
7 seats on the Ōpōtiki District Council
4 seats needed for a majority
Party Seats +/–
Independent 7 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

2025 Ōpōtiki mayoral election

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2025 Ōpōtiki mayoral election[6]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent David Moore† 2,141 71.97
Independent Curley Keno 786 26.42
Informal 1 0.03
Blank 47 1.58
Turnout 2,975
Registered
Independent hold
† incumbent

Urban general ward

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Urban general ward[6]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Shona Browne† 518
Independent Barry Howe† 491
Independent Lyn Riesterer 185
Independent Alex Long 150
Independent Simon Prout 51
Informal 0
Blank 8
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
Independent hold
† incumbent

Rural general ward

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Rural general ward[6]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Dean Petersen† 529
Independent Steve Nelson† 479
Independent Chris Hopman 398
Independent Caitlin Papuni-McLellan 386
Independent Jodi Porter 181
Informal 1
Blank 11
Turnout
Registered
Independent hold
Independent hold
† incumbent

Coast Māori ward

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Coast Māori ward[6]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Pāpā Wharewera 277
Independent Haki McRoberts 92
Informal 0
Blank 9
Turnout
Registered
Independent gain from Independent

Ōpōtiki Māori ward

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Ōpōtiki Māori ward[6]
Affiliation Candidate Vote %
Independent Maude Maxwell 510
Independent Curley Keno 397
Independent Linda Steel 319
Informal 1
Blank 8
Turnout
Registered
Independent gain from Independent
Independent gain from Independent

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Lampp, Warwick (16 October 2025). "Western Bay of Plenty District Council – 2025 Triennial Elections – Declaration of Result" (PDF). ElectioNZ.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lampp, Warwick (16 October 2025). "Rotorua Lakes Council – 2025 Triennial Elections – Declaration of Result" (PDF). ElectioNZ.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Elections 2025 - Results". Whakatāne District Council. Archived from the original on 14 January 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Celebrating our local government successes". Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. 22 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Final Results - Friday 17 October 2025" (PDF). Kawerau District Council. 17 October 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Declaration of Results of Election" (PDF). Ōpōtiki District Council. 17 October 2025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
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