Summary
On the 11th of October 2025, Newsroom published an article titled “Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises” about the 2025 local election results.
According to article:
- Almost half the Councils around New Zealand will have new mayors.
- Mayors for councils which instituted double-digit rates increases were often replaced.
- Newsroom managing editor Jonathan Milne interprets this as “more than just a swing to the right”, attributing it to “the impact of rates rises on cost of living“.
- “Second-placed Hamilton mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson” was “comprehensively beaten” to by Tim Macindoe, with the former National MP becoming Hamilton’s new mayor.
- Hamilton Councillor Sarah Thomson is quoted as describing a “shift to the right” in the election and that those elected on “a lower rates platform are going to find it really challenging to make a meaningful dent in rates because of the cost of water infrastructure.”
- Jonathan Milne states “The political shift in Hamilton is one repeated around the country”.
- For councils hold referendums on Māori wards, “only 17 of 42 councils voted to retain Māori wards”.
- Mayor of Wellington (and Green Party candidate) Tory Whanau did not seek re-election as Mayor and was also was not elected for a Māori ward seat.
- Sam Broughton was replaced as Selwyn mayor, he was also President of LGNZ (Local Government New Zealand) and the majority of his supporting councillors were also replaced.
- Those losses “will force a major rethink at” LGNZ, an organisation “regarded by some members as too close the previous Labour government”.
- Many mayors with prominent roles in KGNZ were also replaced this election, including Alex Walker (Central Hawke’s Bay), Jules Radich (Dunedin), and Jamie Cleine (Buller).
- Two Act Local candidates (John Hyndman and Malcolm Taylor) were elected to Marlborough Council.
- John Hyndman agrees with Hamilton Councillor Sarah Thomson on some of the challenges with rates and is quoted as saying “it’s very, very difficult to cut rates.”
- Far North Council Mayor Moko Tepania has been re-elected. Jonathan Milne described Northland as the one region to have“bucked the swing to the right” then noting the close mayoral races in Whangārei, Kaipara, and Whakatane.
Key Quotes
But perhaps more than just a swing to the right, it’s a reflection of the impact of rates rises on cost of living. Of 18 councils that imposed double-digit rates rises this year, 13 have elected new mayors – and a 14th, Whakatāne, hangs in the balance.
Jonathan Milne, Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises, Newsroom, 11 October 2025
Second-placed Hamilton mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson, who sat on a council that hiked rates more than 41 percent over three years, perhaps says it most bluntly: “To be completely frank, it’s been a really shitty time with rates increases, and the cost pressures on local government, and I’m not surprised by some of the results,” she tells Newsroom.
Thomson, a lawyer and climate activist, was comprehensively beaten to the Hamilton mayoralty by former National MP Tim Macindoe.
“On our council, there’s been a shift to the right,” she says. “Those who have come in on a lower rates platform are going to find it really challenging to make a meaningful dent in rates because of the cost of water infrastructure.”
Jonathan Milne quoting Sarah Thomson in Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises, Newsroom, 11 October 2025
“I just think people liked the idea of lower rates and trying to avoid wastage as much as possible. When you start talking to people, they’re not very knowledgeable about local affairs… Most people couldn’t care less and don’t know much about how councils operate but they grizzle like hell about having to pay high rates…
…But the problem is, if you don’t raise rates, you’ve got to get the money from somewhere. You can either cut your expenditure, which is never popular, or you’ve got to borrow money or sell assets or whatever. It’s very, very difficult.”
Act Local candidate John Hyndman as quoted in Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises, Newsroom, 11 October 2025
Only one region, Northland, looks to have bucked the swing to the right. There, progressive Far North mayor Moko Tepania has held on comfortably. When elsewhere there were national narratives imposed on local elections, he argues Far North voters were focused on what they saw locally.
“Seeing is believing, walking the talk over narrative spin,” he adds.
“Our people have seen the positive, progressive work we’ve been doing and have voted accordingly!”
Jonathan Milne quoting Far North mayor Moko Tepania in Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises, Newsroom, 11 October 2025
Article Details
Headline: Ratepayers rout mayors who imposed big rises
Authored by: Jonathan Milne
Published on: 11 October 2025
Published by: Newsroom
Link: https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/11/ratepayers-rout-mayors-who-imposed-big-rises/
Archived link: https://web.archive.org/web/20251011171332/https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/11/ratepayers-rout-mayors-who-imposed-big-rises/
Further reading on this issue:
Low rates increases achieved at Whanganui District Council – RNZ reports
Stuff Article: Why are councils considering rates hikes of 25.5% and higher?
Democracy Project Article: When unelected officials dominate the local democratic process
