2025 Hastings District Council election
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The 2025 Hastings District Council election is an upcoming local election to be held from 9 September to 11 October in the Hastings District of New Zealand as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. Voters will elect the mayor of Hastings and 15 district councillors for the 2025–2028 term of the Hastings District Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system will be used.
The council introduced a Māori ward at the 2022 election; its future will be decided in a referendum on the issue, as part of a nation-wide series of referendums.
Key dates
- 4 July 2025: Nominations for candidates will open
- 1 August 2025: Nominations for candidates will close at 12 pm
- 9 September 2025: Voting documents will be posted and voting will open
- 11 October 2025: Voting will close at 12 pm and progress/preliminary results will be published
- 16–19 October 2025: Final results will be declared.[1][2]
Background
The wider Hawke's Bay region was devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023 and the affects of it were still being felt in the district in 2025.[3]
Campaign
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Sandra Hazlehurst announced in May that she would not seek re-election to a fourth term.[4] By May, councillor Marcus Buddo had announced his candidacy for mayor, and councillor Damon Harvey was considering it.[4]
Buddo is a 30 year old, fourth generation farmer from Poukawa. Buddo emphasized reducing rates, handling the council's growing debt, cyclone recovery, and housing affordability as key issues for him.[3] Buddo says he has degrees in economics, public health, and politics.[3]
Third-term Incumbent councillor Wendy Schollum announced her candidacy for mayor, launching her campaign on 24 June at St Andrew's Hall. She would campaign on creating a "smarter" council structure, better housing, and improving the local economy.[5]
Council
Referendum
The council had voted unanimously in August 2024 to keep Māori wards in the district. This triggered a referendum to be held alongside the 2025 local elections, per the conditions of legislation passed by the incumbent National government.[6] Mayor Hazlehurst, who is pro-Māori wards, lamented the government's decision to require Māori wards. "We know our community and we should be trusted to make that decision", she said.[6] In 2021, the council asked residents and 76% of responses came back in support of Māori wards.[6]
List of candidates
Incumbents not seeking re-election
- Sandra Hazlehurst, mayor since 2017 and councillor since 2010.[4]
- Tania Kerr, incumbent deputy mayor and councillor since 2008[7][8]
- Malcolm Dixon, councillor since 2013[9]
Mayor
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Buddo | Councillor for the Kahurānaki ward since 2022[3][11][12] | ||
| Steve Gibson | Former Manawatū District councillor from 2007 to 2013[13][5] | ||
| Wendy Schollum | Incumbent councillor since 2016[5][14] |
Councillors
Takitimu Māori ward
Takitimu Māori ward will return three councillors to the district council.[15]
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bevan O’Connor | Independent | [16][17][12] | ||
| Heather Te Au-Skipworth | Incumbent councillor[18] | |||
Flaxmere general ward
Flaxmere general ward will return one councillor to the district council.[15]
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henare O'Keefe | [12] |
Hastings/Havelock North general ward
Hastings/Havelock North general ward will return seven councillors to the district council.[15]
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Fowler | Incumbent councillor[18] | |||
| Damon Harvey | Considering run for mayor. Incumbent councillor[18] | |||
| Rizwanna Latiff | [16][19] | |||
| Lucie-Jane McElwie | [16][20] | |||
| Nick Ratcliffe | [16][21] | |||
| Jacqueline Supra | CARE for Hastings | [16][22][12] | ||
| Kevin Watkins | Incumbent councillor[18] | |||
Heretaunga general ward
Heretaunga general ward will return two councillors to the district council.[15]
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alwyn Corban | Incumbent councillor[18][12] | ||
| Hana Montaperto-Hendry | Incumbent councillor[18] |
Kahurānaki general ward
Kahurānaki general ward will return one councillor to the district council.[15]
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Buddo | Also running for mayor. Incumbent councillor.[18] |
Mōhaka general ward
Mōhaka general ward will return one councillor to the district council.[15]
| Candidate | Photo | Affiliation[a] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek Nowell-Usticke | CARE for Hastings | [16][23] | ||
Results
Final results are expected to be released by 19 October.
Summary
| Ward | Previous | Elected | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Sandra Hazlehurst | to be determined | ||
| Mohaka | Tania Kerr | |||
| Takitimu | Ana Apatu | |||
| Kellie Jessup | ||||
| Heather Te Au-Skipworth | ||||
| Kahuranaki | Marcus Buddo | |||
| Heretaunga | Alwyn Corban | |||
| Hana Montaperto-Hendry | ||||
| Flaxmere | Henry Heke | |||
| Hastings-Havelock North | Malcolm Dixon | |||
| Michael Fowler | ||||
| Damon Harvey | ||||
| Simon Nixon | ||||
| Wendy Schollum | ||||
| Kevin Watkins | ||||
| vacant | ||||
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Result not yet known | ||
| Total votes | — | 100.00 |
Other local elections
Voters across the district will also elect six members of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.[24] Depending on where in the district they live they will also elect fours members of a rural community board and six members of a licensing trust in Flaxmere.[15]
See also
Notes
- ^ 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. Hastings District Council does not allow whānau, hapū, or iwi details to be used for the affiliation.[10]
References
- ^ "Local Elections". www.hastingsdc.govt.nz. Hastings District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Local Elections". www.hbrc.govt.nz. Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d Cook, Alexa (22 February 2025). "Hastings farmer announces bid to be elected Hastings mayor". Radio New Zealand.
- ^ a b c "'Mixed emotions': Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst not seeking re-election". Radio New Zealand. 30 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Hall, Linda (24 June 2025). "Wendy Schollum joins race to be Hastings mayor". Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ a b c Hamilton-Irvine, Gary (27 August 2024). "Hastings District Council opts to keep Māori ward triggering referendum at 2025 election". Hawke's Bay Today.
- ^ Hall, Linda (20 May 2025). "'Scary and exciting': Deputy Mayor steps down after long tenure". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ "Mayor, Councillors & Boards". www.hastingsdc.govt.nz. Hastings District Council. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ^ Hall, Linda (22 May 2025). "'Rewarding journey': Long-serving Hastings councillor steps down". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
- ^ "Pukapuka Aratohu Kaitonopōti | Candidate Handbook" (PDF). www.hastingsdc.govt.nz. Hastings District Council. p. 16. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
- ^ Hall, Linda (25 February 2025). "Councillor clashes with mayoral hopeful, makes jibe about European holiday". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "2025 Triennial Elections | Hastings District Council". www.electionz.com. electionz.com. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Hall, Linda (11 June 2025). "From motel owner to mayoral candidate: Steve Gibson vows to curb Hastings rate rises". Hawke's Bay Today. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Hall, Linda (25 June 2025). "'Hastings is at a turning point': Councillor Wendy Schollum goes all-in on mayoralty bid". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Information for voters". www.hastingsdc.govt.nz. Hastings District Council. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Candidates: rumoured, real, departing". Bay Buzz. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ O'Connor, Bevan (19 June 2025). "Rangatahi Lead Māori Enrolment Surge – Time Running Out To Switch Rolls". Scoop.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Hawke's Bay elections: Two councillors to step down, mayors confirm bids". RNZ. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ^ "Rizwaana- Riz Latiff for Hastings Havelock Ward". Facebook. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Lucie-Jane McElwee For Hastings District Council". Facebook. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "nickratcliffeheretaunga". Instagram. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Jacqueline (Jaki) Supra". CARE for Hastings. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Derek Nowell-Usticke". CARE for Hastings. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Voting in local elections". www.hbrc.govt.nz. Hawke's Bay Regional Council. Retrieved 15 April 2025.