WELLINGTON, Oct 12 (NNN-RNZ) – Provisional results for New Zealand’s 2025 local elections were released, after the voting closed at 12.00 p.m. local time yesterday.
In Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city, Wayne Brown was declared provisionally re-elected as mayor. The progress results showed that Brown had won 146,642 votes, which was 90,030 votes more than the runner-up, Kerrin Leoni.
In the capital city of Wellington, former New Zealand Labour Party Leader, Andrew Little, has been elected the next mayor. The progress results showed him winning with a majority of 34,240 votes, ahead of second-place Karl Tiefenbacher, who received 8,807 votes.
The progress results showed that, a winning margin of 19,918 votes re-elected Christchurch mayor, Phil Mauger.
According to the local election authorities, progress results counted the majority of votes, while excluding those votes received on Saturday morning and special votes. The official results of the local elections will be released on Thursday or Friday, in different cities, after all votes have been counted.
National broadcaster, Radio New Zealand, reported that, nearly 3,500 candidates were standing for more than 1,500 positions at 78 city, district, regional and unitary councils across New Zealand.
Notably, voter turnout was low for this year’s local elections. By Friday, only 35.8 percent of the ballots were returned in Wellington. Christchurch had a 33.4 percent return rate of ballots, while Auckland saw a 23.1 percent return rate, which were the lowest turnout rates in recent years.
New Zealand local elections were held every three years, to elect mayors, ward councillors and local board members.– NNN-RNZ
