The 2024 Tauranga mayoral election was held to elect the mayor of Tauranga as part of the 2024 Tauranga local elections. The election took place between 29 June and 20 July 2024, with the official results released on 25 July. It was the first election since the Minister of Local Government appointed a Crown Commission on 9 February 2021 to oversee all of Tauranga City Council's governance responsibilities. The election was held using the Single Transferable Vote system.
Mahé Drysdale was elected as mayor.
Background The last mayor, Tenby Powell, was elected to the office in October 2019 but resigned in November 2020, eight months after he was unanimously censured by his council for an angry outburst. Following further mayoral "outbursts," Powell publicly called for the Minister of Local Government to appoint a commission to replace the "dysfunctional" council. The decision to cancel the election for a new mayor and councillors, and the appointment of a crown commission instead by Local Government minister Nanaia Mahuta was not without controversy. A legal opinion by law firm Russell McVeagh found her decision may have been "unlawful" and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges called the decision "dramatic and draconian", while saying that Powell quitting removed "a significant source of friction" and it was reasonable to assume the council would become more functional with the election of a new Mayor and Councillors.
The 2022 local elections were cancelled by the government and the commission will remain in place until an election for members of the Tauranga City Council is held on 20 July 2024. Additionally, the Minister also decided to postpone the 2025 local election in Tauranga until 2028. The council elected in 2024 will thus serve a four year term, a first for New Zealand.
Key dates Key dates for the election are:
19 April: Last day to switch electoral roll. 26 April: Nominations opened for candidates. 24 May: Nominations close. 29 June – 3 July: Voting papers delivered. 29 June: Special voting begins. 20 July: Polling day. Voting documents needed to be at council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results available as soon as all ordinary votes are counted. 23–25 July: Official results, including all valid ordinary and special votes, declared.
Candidates CandidateTicket (if any)NotesTanya Bamford-KingIndependentAureliu BragutaIndependentGreg BrownlessCommunity Focus - Responsible SpendingMayor 2016–2019Andrew CaieIndependentMahé DrysdaleOlympic champion rower, grandson of former mayor Bob OwensAnthony GoddardChudleigh HaggettRia HallMusician and television presenterDonna HannahBOP HoriAlso stood in 2016Tim MaltbyOur Rates are too HighJos NagelsVisionary Leadership, Not RepeatershipDouglas OwensIndependentFormer Bay of Plenty regional councillor. Son of former mayor Bob Owens, uncle of Mahé DrysdaleJohn RobsonPrincipled; Professional; DemocraticCouncillor 2013-2016, 2018-2021Tina SalisburyPeople and Progress over PoliticsDeputy mayor 2020–2021
Withdrawn Eric Chuah B A (Brian) Friend
Results The official results were released on 25 July, showing Mahé Drysdale was elected as mayor. Voter turnout was 38.77%, which compares with a turnout of 40.28% at the 2019 election. Overall +2024 Tauranga mayoral electionAffiliationCandidatePrimary vote %Final voteIndependentMahé Drysdale10,14723.8016,606IndependentGreg Brownless5,78513.5710,510IndependentRia Hall6,80815.97IndependentTina Salisbury5,09611.95 IndependentTim Maltby3,2877.71 IndependentDouglas Owens3,2877.71 IndependentJohn Robson3,0127.07 IndependentAndrew Caie1,2732.99 IndependentTanya Bamford-King8982.11 IndependentJos Nagels7891.85 IndependentAnthony Goddard7171.68 IndependentAureliu Braguta4801.13 IndependentChudleigh Haggett2370.56 IndependentDonna Hannah1450.34 IndependentBOP Hori1410.33 Valid42,32399.28 Informal1290.30 Blank1800.42 Total42,63238.98 Registered109,381Independent win Primary vote by ward +Primary vote by wardWardMargin (pp) Drysdale Brownless Hall SalisburyOtherTotalArataki 12.93 1,3556666095862,1125,328Bethlehem 10.65 1,4938905137771,9885,661Matua-Otūmoetai 3.82 1,3721,1427098611,9426,026Mauao/Mount Maunganui 14.16 1,2315796045711,4424,427Pāpāmoa 13.32 1,2526076213941,8654,739Tauriko 14.62 1,2696104216041,6044,508Te Awanui 75.9914942 2,175832172,666Te Papa 9.17 8905474934531,3573,740Welcome Bay 8.30 1,1367026637671,9605,228Total 7.89 10,1475,7856,808 5,09614,48742,323
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