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 territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
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 (Eastbourne and Wainuiomata). 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.
Campaign
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.
CandidateAffiliation NotesTe Awa PuketapuTangata WhenuaIncumbent chair of the Wainuiomata community board
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.
CandidateAffiliation NotesChris ParkinNoneIncumbent councillor. Green endorsed.Robbie SchneiderIndependent
Northern ward The Northern ward returned two councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesAndy MitchellIndependentIncumbent councillor for the Eastern wardNaomi ShawNoneIncumbent councillor
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.
CandidateAffiliation NotesGlenda BarrattIndependentIncumbent councillorRodney CookNoneSimon EdwardsIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2016Neelu JenningsGreensPaki MaakaIndependentGeorge MackayIndependentTim McNamaraWITHDRAWN
Harbour ward The Harbour ward returned one councillor to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesTui LewisIndependentIncumbent deputy mayor
As the only candidate, Lewis was re-elected unopposed.
Wainuiomata ward The Wainuiomata ward returned one councillor to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesKeri BrownLabourIncumbent councillor
As the only candidate, Brown was re-elected unopposed.
At-large ward Five councillors were elected at-large to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesSherry AntonyIndependentBrady DyerIndependentIncumbent councillor. Also ran for mayor.Andrew GavrielIndependentJonathon GilbertThe Security NoticeboardSemi KuresaNoneSuzanne LevyIndependentMember of Speak up for Women, Anti-Trans Group.Kath McGuinnessIndependentChris PaulIndependentPrabha RaviIndependentPreviously ran for election as a councillor for the at-large ward in 2022. Also ran for mayor.Tony StallingerIndependentIncumbent councillorMele Tonga-GrantNoneKaren (Kaz) YungIndependentIncumbent deputy chair of the Petone community board
Results
Overall turnout was 41.56%, with 33,038 voting papers returned.
Summary WardPreviousElectedMayorCampbell BarryKen LabanAt-largeBrady DyerBrady DyerJosh BriggsPrabha RaviTony StallingerTony StallingerKaren MorganKaren YungGabiel TupouMele Tonga-GrantSimon Edwardsseat removedWesternChris ParkinChris ParkinHarbourTui LewisTui LewisNorthernNaomi ShawNaomi Shaw new seatAndy MitchellEasternAndy Mitchell seat removedCentralGlenda BarrattGlenda Barratt new seatSimon EdwardsWainuiomataKeri Brown Keri Brown Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori new seatTe Awa Puketapu retired
Mayor
Sports commentator and former councillor Fauono Ken Laban was elected mayor, becoming New Zealand's first Pasifika mayor. He won 8,704 votes to Brady Dyer's 6,974 votes, Karen Morgan's 5,529 votes, and Prabha Ravi's 3,608 votes.
Council With final results, the following candidates were declared elected:
At-large ward
Western ward
Harbour ward
Northern ward
Central ward
Wainuiomata ward
Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori ward
Māori ward referendum
Amalgamation referendum A majority of Lower Hutt voters voted in favour of exploring amalgamation with the Wellington, Porirua and Upper Hutt councils.
See also 2025 Greater Wellington Regional Council election 2025 Upper Hutt City Council election 2025 Wellington City Council election 2025 Porirua City Council election 2025 Kāpiti Coast District Council election
Note
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