Mayor seeks record fifth term

4 Jul

By Chris Marshall

**Who will be mayor by the end of 2025?**

It’s local body election year and Taupō & Tūrangi News asks who’s standing again and who’s not. On July 4 candidate nominations open as well as the roll for public inspection.

While candidate nominations don’t close until midday August 1 – with candidate names publicly notified on August 6 – this October’s elections will see at least one longstanding Taupō District councillor vacate their chairs.

John Williamson, first elected 2013, has announced he will not be seeking re-election.

Of the incumbent councillors, Kirsty Trueman, Mangakino-Pouakani Ward, unopposed in 2022, is the longest serving, having first been elected in 2010 – so seeking a sixth term if she stands again, but she hasn’t confirmed that yet.

Christine Rankin was the highest polling Taupō Ward councillor in 2022 and first elected in 2016. She was Deputy Mayor in 2019, but a little controversially not in 2022, despite the role often going to the highest polling candidate; David Trewavas instead choosing Kevin Taylor.

Those looking at a third term, first elected in 2019, are Yvonne Westerman (second highest polling candidate in 2022) and, Kevin Taylor (third highest 2022) in the Taupō Ward and Kylie Leonard (Taupō East Rural Ward).

Leonard stood unopposed in 2022 but had to contest the ward in 2019 beating Chris Te Whare by just over 60 votes, 355 to 292.

Those seeking a second term for the Taupō Ward include Rachel Shepherd (sixth highest polling candidate 2022) and Duncan Campbell who first stood in 2019 when he finished 10th but in 2022 got in as the seventh polling candidate, 200 votes ahead of Jane Arnott.

Sandra Greenslade hasn’t confirmed her intentions for the Tūrangi-Tongariro Ward, but was also first elected in 2022, winning the southern ward out of a field of four, with 518 votes, ahead of Clint Green on 351.

As for the two Te Papamārearea Māori Ward councillors, Danny Loughlin will be standing again for the Taupō-Kaingaroa Ward and Karam Fletcher has yet to confirm if he will run again.

In 2022 four candidates contested this new ward with Fletcher polling 617, ahead of Loughlin’s 555 votes.

The ward, introduced at the 2022 election, will be the subject of a referendum alongside the council elections. The Local Government (Māori Wards) Amendment Bill requires councils that brought in Māori wards without polling residents to either hold a binding poll this year or remove Māori seats from the election.

The ward will remain until at least 2028 when the results of the poll will come into effect.

Overall voter turnout in Taupō over the past five elections has varied between 45 and 55 per cent since 2010.

Incumbent Mayor David Trewavas is standing again and if re-elected will be the longest serving mayor in the district’s history.

Previous Mayors

Joan Williamson, 1989-2001 four terms (also the last Taupō Borough Council Mayor 1986-1989 before local body reorganisation)

Clayton Stent, 2001-2007 two terms

Rick Cooper 2007-2013 two terms

David Trewavas 2013-2025 four terms

Other important dates:

August 1: Electoral roll closes

September 9: Voting opens

October 7: Last day for postal votes

October 11: Ballot box voting closes

October 16-22: Declaration of results

Swearing in ceremonies for councillors October/November.

Number of councillors

The 13-person Taupō District Council, a mayor and 12 councillors, draws representatives from five wards, including Mangakino-Pouakani (1), Taupō (7), Taupō East Rural (1), Tūrangi-Tongariro (1) and two from Te Papamārearea Māori Ward.

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