1998 Porirua mayoral election

The 1998 Porirua mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections held that same year. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Porirua plus other local government positions including thirteen city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

An effort was made by centre-right voters to avoid a repeat of the previous election where multiple right-leaning mayoral candidates split the vote and allowed Labour Party mayor John Burke to be re-elected on a minority vote. A right-leaning ticket was set up called the Porirua Independents Network (PIN) to oppose Labour's running of the city and bring about change. PIN managed to arrange for only one candidate to run against Burke, former Plimmerton ward councillor Jenny Brash who ran as an independent but was endorsed by PIN. Brash was successful and defeated Burke by a surprisingly large majority. She campaigned on a change of direction and the construction of a new hospital in Kenepuru. Burke stated that he was not surprised that he was defeated, but was by the margin of defeat. Despite succeeding in their goal of unseating the mayor, all of PIN's eleven council candidates were defeated. Despite losing the mayoral contest Labour's vote held up with its six incumbent councillors being re-elected comfortably.^[1]

Notable council ward results were the election of Council of Trade Unions president Ken Douglas, the election 19 year old future mayor Nick Leggett and the defeat of high profile maverick councillor Don Borrie.^[1] Labour retained a working majority on the council with the vote of Douglas who voted to retain Labour councillor Jasmine Underhill as deputy mayor over the other nominee, councillor Helen Smith.^[2]

The following table gives the election results:

Candidates were also elected from wards to the Porirua City Council.