2025 Local Election Results

2025 Triennial Elections: PRELIMINARY RESULT 12 October

The preliminary result for the Ruapehu District Council elections held on Saturday 11th October is as follows.

The preliminary vote returns confirm Weston Kirton has been re-elected as the Mayor for Ruapehu with 2,330 votes, polling ahead of Mayoral Candidates Lyn Neeson (1,341), Grant Lethborg (1,001), and Fiona Kahukura Hadley-Chase (369).

Kuru Ketu, Korty Wilson, and Channey Duncan Turoa Iwikau have been elected as Ruapehu's Māori Ward Councillors.

General Ward Councillors Robyn Gram, Viv Hoeta, Rabbit Nottage, and Brenda Ralph have been successful in their re-election. They are joined by new councillors Luke Pepper and John Chapman.

Peter Zimmer, Murray Wilson, Eddie Marsters and Anthony Gurr have been returned to the Ōwhango-National Park Community Board. They are joined by Gail Gray as a new Community Board member.

Sophie Stockbridge, Molly Jeffries, and Oriwia Wanakore have been re-elected and will be joined by Brian Portland and John Dryden on the Taumarunui-Ōhura Community Board.

After initially tight progress results, the preliminary results show that the Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board will comprise incumbents Luigi Hotter, Kay Henare, Colin Pakai, and Stu Robinson, along with new member Emma Young.

Māori Ward Poll

Voters have decided to retain Māori wards for the next two electoral terms (2028 and 2031). The poll results were:

• Vote to KEEP the Māori Ward: 2,022 (51.1%)
• Vote to REMOVE the Māori Ward: 1,932 (48.9%)

Details of the Preliminary Results can be found here:

A final declaration of the election results will be published Thursday 16 October when the remaining Special Votes have been included.

12 October 2025: Preliminary Election Results Delayed Due to High Voter Turnout

The preliminary results for the Ruapehu District Council elections will be delayed due to significantly higher than expected voter turnout on the final day.

Electionz.com is processing almost double the number of votes received in 2022, with approximately 55,000 ordinary votes being processed today alone.

Updated timeline:

• Preliminary results: Now expected Monday afternoon, 13 October (rather than Sunday 12 October)
• Final results: Thursday 16 October (once all special votes have been verified and counted)

Electionz.com is working as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy. Special votes have not been included in either progress or preliminary results.

Thank you to everyone who exercised their democratic right to vote.