2025 Lower Hutt mayoral election


The 2025 Lower Hutt mayoral election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, as part of that year's council election and nation-wide local elections. Voters elected the mayor of Lower Hutt for the 2025–2028 term. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used. The incumbent mayor Campbell Barry did not seek re-election.
Ken Laban was elected as mayor, becoming New Zealand's first Pasifika mayor.

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

Incumbent mayor Campbell Barry decided not to seek re-election for a third term as mayor.

Mayoral results

Sports commentator and former councillor Fauono Ken Laban was elected mayor, becoming New Zealand's first Pasifika mayor.
The final results are as follows: