Three new Waikato regional councillors

Preliminary vote counts are in for the 2025 local government elections, with three new members elected to Waikato Regional Council and seven on the Rates Control ticket. 
 
While the vast majority of votes have been counted, special votes and voting papers delivered this morning to the offices of the 11 constituent territorial authorities in the Waikato Regional Council area are yet to be included in these results.
 
Two councillors had been re-elected unopposed, both in the Māori constituencies established for the elections in 2013: Kataraina Hodge for Ngā Tai ki Uta, and Tipa Mahuta for Ngā Hau e Whā.
 
Official results are expected to be available at waikatoregion.govt.nz/election-results between 16 and 19 October.
 
The first official meeting of the new council will be on Wednesday, 29 October, when a chair and deputy chair will be selected by councillors. 
 
Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay said: “There are some real challenges ahead for this council to navigate, including the impacts of legislative reform as well as cost-of-living pressures.
 
“Our council will be working with our partners, stakeholders and communities to address these challenges and optimise the opportunities to make the Waikato region even better,” he said.
 
Mr McLay acknowledged Pamela Storey, two-term councillor and chair for the 2022-25 triennium, who has not been re-elected based on preliminary voting counts.
 
“Pamela has led the council through a time of significant central government reform and worked hard for the region.”
 
Mr McLay also acknowledged the contributions of Deputy Chair Bruce Clarkson and Councillor Clyde Graf, who were unsuccessful in their bids for re-election.