The 2025 Napier City Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Napier, New Zealand, as part of that year's territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected the mayor of Napier and 11 city councillors for the 2025–2028 term of the Napier City Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
Councillor Richard McGrath won the mayoralty, defeating incumbent mayor Kirsten Wise.
In the prior term, the council had voted to introduce a Māori ward for this election; in a referendum on its future held at this election (as part of a nation-wide series of referendums) voters elected to remove the Māori ward for future elections.
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 elected the mayor of Napier and 12 councillors from 4 wards. They also elected 4 members of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council.
Campaign
Māori wards referendum A group called For Wards Hawke's Bay formed to support the pro-ward position at the referendums in the wider Hawke's Bay region. The group held a meeting on 23 July in Clive chaired by regional council chair Rex Graham, with various speakers including local Presbyterian minister Jill McDonald, Hastings Māori ward councillor Heather Te Au-Skipworth, HB Multicultural Society president Rizwaana Latiff and Hayley Whittaker from the Public Service Association.
Hawke's Bay Today asked the mayoral candidates whether they supported the group; mayor Wise said she had been working closely with them, Richard McGrath said he had no opinion on the group, and Nigel Simpson said he was not familiar with the group and that he was against Māori wards.
List of candidates Incumbents not seeking re-election Maxine Boag, councillor since 2007 Annette Brosnan, incumbent deputy mayor and fourth-term councillor Hayley Browne, councillor since 2019, instead ran for a seat on the Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chad Tareha, first-term councillor for the Taradale ward
Mayor CandidateAffiliation NotesRichard McGrathCommonsense change, needs before wantsCouncillor since 2014. Also ran for re-election as a councillor for the Napier Central general ward.Nigel SimpsonIndependentCouncillor since 2019, stood for the mayoralty in 2022 and lost to Wise. Also ran for re-election as a councillor for the Taradale general ward.Kirsten WiseIndependentIncumbent mayor since 2019
Councillors Te Whanga Māori ward Te Whanga Māori ward returned two councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesWhare Isaac-SharlandNoneKirk Kia-maia LeonardNoneShyann RaihaniaNone
Ahuriri general ward Ahuriri general ward returned three councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation Notes Iain Bradley ACT LocalRoger BrownlieIndependentRetailer and orchardistLouise BurnsideIndependentSally CrownExperienced, Strong, GroundedIncumbent councillor since 2019Karl GoodchildLower RatesPreviously ran for council in 2022Juliet GreigNoneIncumbent councillor since 2022Lyndal JohanssonIndependent, fresh voiceBen NewportIndependentKeith PriceIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2010
Napier Central general ward Napier Central general ward returned three councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesTe Kira LawrenceIndependentPreviously ran for council in 2022Taiatini LepaioIndependentGreg 'Grego' MawsonWorking with you, for youIncumbent councillor since 2019Richard McGrathYour Community RepresentativeIncumbent councillor since 2014. Also ran for mayor.Craig MorleyGet back to basics
Taradale general ward Taradale general ward returned three councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesRonda ChrystalIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2019Terry CornishNoneSemi-retired businessmanNigel SimpsonIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2019. Also ran for mayor.Graeme TaylorIndependentIncumbent councillor since 2010
Results Mayor Councillor Richard McGrath won the mayoralty, defeating incumbent mayor Kirsten Wise.
Council Ahuriri General Ward
Napier Central General Ward
Taradale General Ward
Te Whanga Māori Ward
Māori Ward Poll
See also 2025 Hastings District Council election
Notes
References