The 2025 Hamilton City Council election was a local election held from 9 September to 11 October in Hamilton, New Zealand, as part of that year's territorial authority elections and other local elections held nation-wide.
Voters elected the mayor of Hamilton and 14 city councillors for the 2025–2028 term of the Hamilton City Council. Postal voting and the single transferable vote system were used.
A finalised list of candidate names was released by the City Council on 4 August identifying 52 candidates, including 12 candidates for mayor. Incumbent mayor Paula Southgate did not run for re-election.
Councillor Tim Macindoe won the mayoralty, with fellow councillor Sarah Thomson coming in second place.
The council introduced a Māori ward at the 2022 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.
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 Hamilton and 14 councillors from 3 wards. They also elected several members of the Waikato Regional Council.
Campaign
Better Hamilton was a group of candidates who jointly campaigned during the election campaign.
List of candidates Incumbents not seeking re-election Paula Southgate, mayor since 2019 Moko Tauariki, councillor for the Kirikiriroa Maaori ward since 2022 Ewan Wilson, councillor in the West ward since 2019 Kesh Naidoo-Rauf, councillor in the East ward since 2019
Mayor
Incumbent mayor Paula Southgate did not run for re-election. Incumbent councillor and former National MP Tim Macindoe contested the election, as well as incumbent councillors Sarah Thomson and Maria Huata. Rachel Karalus also ran.
Councillors Kirikiriroa Maaori ward The Kirikiriroa Maaori ward returned two councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesJarrad GallagherNoneMaria HuataNoneIncumbent councillor since 2024 by-election. Also ran for mayor.Lawrence JensenIndependentRobbie NehaIndependentAndrew Lewis PopeNoneJahvaya Watene WhekiIndependent
West ward The West ward returned six councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesPaul AlforqueNone Lawyer and consultant.Matthew BeveridgeIndependentMark FlygerBetter HamiltonNidhita GosaiACT LocalProcess safety engineerLouise HuttNoneIncumbent councillorMesh MacdonaldBetter HamiltonAllan James McKieNoneGraeme MeadBetter HamiltonAngela O'LearyIndependentIncumbent councillor and deputy mayorEmma PikeIndependentIncumbent councillorDave TaylorNoneAlso ran for mayorGeoff TaylorNoneIncumbent councillorSarah ThomsonIndependentIncumbent councillor, also standing as a mayoral candidate Mike WestBetter HamiltonRoderick John YoungNone
East ward The East ward returned six councillors to the city council.
CandidateAffiliation NotesRachel AfeakiIndependentStuart David AitkenBetter HamiltonAndrew BydderBetter HamiltonIncumbent councillor and architectural designerAnna Casey-CoxNoneIncumbent councillorPreet DhaliwalACT LocalHospitality business ownerRudi du PlooyNonePreviously stood as a joint New Conservatives & NewZeal (formerly known as ONE Party) candidate in the 2022 Election for the Hamilton West electorate. Also ran for mayor.Jack GielenThe Peoples VoiceFormer deputy leader for The Republic of New Zealand Party. Also ran for mayor.Marie HamiltonIndependentRyan Hamilton, MP for Hamilton East representing the National Party is Marie's husband.Louise Rachel HarveyNew Zealand Constitution PartySuhair Sabah HassanNew Zealand Constitution PartyHoriana HendersonBetter HamiltonPeter HumphreysNoneTim HuntNoneJason JonassenIndependentRachel KaralusIndependentAlso ran for mayor.Leo LiuBetter HamiltonTim MacindoeIndependentIncumbent councillor, also standing as a mayoral candidate. Danielle MarksNoneGreen Party endorsed.Alexander Bruce McConnochieNoneJohn McDonaldBetter HamiltonAlso ran for mayorSue MoroneyNonePreviously a Labour Party list MP, 2005-2017Jenny NandIndependentJono NgIndependentTuri RobinsonIndependentJamie StrangeIndependentPreviously a Labour List MP and then MP for Hamilton East, 2017-2023.Jackie TalbotIndependentMaxine van OostenNoneIncumbent councillor
Results
Mayor
Councillor Tim Macindoe won the mayoral election, with Sarah Thomson coming second.
Council West general ward
East general ward
Kirikiriroa Maaori ward
Maaori Ward Poll
See also 2025 Hauraki District Council election
Notes
References