One councillor elected unopposed, competition in seven constituencies

One candidate has been elected unopposed to Waikato Regional Council, with competition in seven constituencies.

At the close of nominations at midday today (Friday, 1 August), 32 nominations had been received for 14 Waikato Regional Council seats in six general and two Māori constituencies in this year’s local government elections.

The number of candidates did not exceed the number of vacancies in the Ngā Tai ki Uta constituency. That means Kataraina Hodge has been elected unopposed and regional council voting will not occur in that constituency. 

However, voting will take place in the Hamilton, Taupō-Rotorua, Waihou, Waipā-King Country, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato and Ngā Hau e Whā constituencies.

All current regional councillors decided to stand again this year. 

Regional councillors are elected by voters enrolled on the residential or ratepayer rolls in their constituency. If you're correctly enrolled by 1 August 2025, you’ll receive your voting papers in the mail between 9 and 22 September. If you enrol or update your details after this date, you can still vote by contacting your district or city council to cast a special vote.

The last day for posting votes by mail is Tuesday 7 October 2025. After this date, they must be returned to a ballot box at designated locations around the region. 

Candidate names will appear in fully random order on each voting paper. Waikato Regional Council is also continuing to use First Past the Post (FPP), where you tick for your preferred regional council candidates.

Waikato Regional Council constituencies and candidates (listed in alphabetical order)

Hamilton (4 vacancies)

• Pamela Chiles
• Bruce Clarkson
• Ben Dunbar-Smith
• Chris Hughes
• Jennifer Nickel
• Henry Penny
• Robin Ratcliffe
• Angela Strange
• Bala Tikkisetty
• Phillip Westwood

 Ngā Tai ki Uta (1 vacancy – elected unopposed)

• Kataraina Hodge

 Ngā Hau e Whā (1 vacancy)

• Tipa Mahuta
• Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai

Taupō-Rotorua (1 vacancy)

• Debbie Davies
• Mich’eal Downard
• Deb Mair

Thames-Coromandel (1 vacancy)

• Warren Maher
• Jason Roxburgh

 Waihou (2 vacancies)

• Lindsay Algra
• Walt Cavendish
• Robert Cookson
• Keith Holmes
• Julie Taylor

Waikato (2 vacancies)

• Rhys Craig
• Gary McGuire
• Russ Rimmington*
• Noel Smith
• Pamela Storey

 Waipā-King Country (2 vacancies)

• Clyde Graf
• Stu Kneebone
• Garry Reymer
• Liz Stolwyk

The candidates’ profile statements will be online on our website by early next week: waikatoregion.govt.nz/elections.