2025 Hutt City Council election
The 2025 Hutt City Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, as part of that year's nation-wide local elections. Voters elected the mayor of Lower Hutt, 13 city councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the Hutt City Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
Ken Laban was elected as mayor, becoming New Zealand's first Pasifika mayor.
The council voted to introduce a Māori ward at 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.
A majority of voters also voted in favour of exploring amalgamation with the Wellington, Upper Hutt, Porirua and Greater Wellington councils, in an indicative poll on the issue.
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.
Background
Positions up for election
Voters in the city elected the mayor of Lower Hutt, 12 city councillors from 7 wards, and the members of two community boards. They also elected several members of the Greater Wellington Regional Council.Representation review
Following the recommendations of an independent panel, The council decided to increase the number of councillors elected from the general wards from six to seven, decrease the number of councillors elected from the at-large ward from six to five, and to disestablish the Petone, Wainuiomata and Eastbourne community boards. However, a review of these proposals by the Local Government Commission determined that the Wainuiomata and Eastbourne community boards would remain and only the Petone community board would be disestablished.Māori wards referendum
The council voted in 2023 to establish a Māori ward for the 2025 elections.The National-led coalition government passed legislation on Māori wards in July 2024, which reinstated the requirement that councils must hold a referendum before establishing Māori wards or constituencies; The council voted to affirm their decision to establish the Māori constituency, thereby triggering a referendum on the constituency to be held alongside the 2025 elections.
Amalgamation referendum
An indicative referendum was held alongside the election regarding potential amalgamation of the council with Wellington City Council, Upper Hutt City Council, Porirua City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council.List of candidates
Incumbents not seeking re-election
- Campbell Barry, mayor since 2019
- Josh Briggs, councillor since 2016
- Gabriel Tupou, councillor since 2022, is instead standing for Greater Wellington Regional Council
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Campbell Barry decided not to seek re-election for a third term as mayor. Four candidates contested the position:- Brady Dyer, incumbent councillor for the at-large ward since 2019.
- Ken Laban, Greater Wellington regional councillor for the Lower Hutt constituency since 2013 and former mayoral candidate in 2007.
- Karen Morgan, incumbent councillor for the at-large ward since 2022 and former principal of Taita College.
- Prabha Ravi, 2022 council candidate for the United Hutt ticket and founder and artistic director of Natraj School of Dance.
Councillors
Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori ward
Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori ward returned one councillor to the city council.As the only candidate, Puketapu is elected unopposed as the inaugural Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori ward councillor.
Western ward
The Western ward returned one councillor to the city council.Northern ward
The Northern ward returned two councillors to the city council.As the number of candidates did not exceed the number of positions available, Mitchell and Shaw were re-elected.
Central ward
The Central ward returned two councillors to the city council.Harbour ward
The Harbour ward returned one councillor to the city council.As the only candidate, Lewis was re-elected unopposed.
Wainuiomata ward
The Wainuiomata ward returned one councillor to the city council.As the only candidate, Brown was re-elected unopposed.