The 2025 Whanganui District Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in the Whanganui District of New Zealand, as part of that year's territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected the mayor of Whanganui, 12 district councillors, and other local representatives for the 2025–2028 term of the Whanganui District Council. Postal voting and the first-past-the-post voting system were used.
The council voted to introduce a Māori ward at this election; its future was decided in a referendum on the issue, as part of a nation-wide series of referendums.
Incumbent mayor Andrew Tripe was re-elected to a second term.
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 published 16–19 October 2025: Final results declared.
Background
Positions up for election Voters in the district elected the mayor of Whanganui, 12 councillors in 2 wards, and the members of the Rural Community Board. They also elected members of the Horizons Regional Council.
Campaign
Mayor In early October, incumbent mayor Andrew Tripe drew controversy when he attended a candlelit vigil for American conservative activist Charlie Kirk, following said activist's assassination. Tripe said he regretted his comments at the vigil, saying he "naïvely" went to the event after being invited and that he did not know that Kirk was a divisive figure. He was quoted as saying that "Charlie Kirk shed his blood for us" and that "it is our call to act on what Charlie Kirk was doing, boldly."
List of candidates Incumbents not seeking re-election Charlie Anderson, councillor since 2013 Helen Craig, deputy mayor and councillor since 2013. Jenny Duncan, councillor since 2013
Mayor CandidatePhotoAffiliation NotesJosh Chandulal-MackayA New Generation of LeadershipCouncillor since 2016. Also ran for re-election as a councillor in the general ward.Gregory McPheeNoneAlso ran to be a councillor in the general wardPeter OskamCommunity before CoinCouncillor since 2022. Also ran for re-election as a councillor in the general ward.Andrew TripeLet's keep Whanganui moving forwardMayor since 2022
Councillors Whanganui Māori ward Whanganui Māori ward returned two councillors to the district council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesKiritahi FirminIndependentJulie HerewiniNoneGeoff HipangoNoneHayden PotakaIndependentPhil T Reweti (Bear)None
Whanganui General ward Whanganui General ward returned ten councillors to the district council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesPhilippa Baker-HoganRatepayer & Sport focusedIncumbent councillorJason BardellBack to BasicsGlenda BrownIndependentCouncillor since 2022Josh Chandulal-MackayA New Generation of LeadershipIncumbent councillor since 2016. Also ran for mayor.Julian EmmettNoneRoss FallenIndependentCouncillor since 2022Awhi HaengaNoneGreen endorsedMike HosA voice for our city's futureTracey JarmanRates & Community focusedKate JoblinIndependentCouncillor since 2016Sandra Isobel KyleAnimal Justice Party of Aotearoa NZMichael LawIndependentCouncillor since 2022Gregory McPheeNoneAlso ran for mayorCharlotte MelserIndependentCouncillor since 2022Michael OrganWhanganui FirstSubject of the David Farrier documentary Mister Organ Rob OscroftFocus WhanganuiPeter OskamCommunity before CoinAlso standing for mayor. Councillor since 2022.Scott PhillipsEvery cent counts, every voice mattersJay RerekuraNoneTony SundmanNoneRob VinsenRatepayer focusedCouncillor since 2008Robin WestleyIndependentAzian Z.Real solutions for Whanganui
Results
Overall turnout was 50.32%, with 17,024 voting papers returned.
With the final results, the following candidates were declared elected:
Mayor Incumbent mayor Andrew Tripe was re-elected to a second term.
Council Whanganui General Ward
Whanganui Māori Ward
Māori Ward Poll
See also 2025 Palmerston North City Council election
Notes
References