Local elections final results 2025
Published on 22 October 2025
As well as welcoming new elected members and farewelling those who have left, Council’s Chief Executive Simon Weston is acknowledging the Whangārei community’s commitment to voting in the 2025 local government elections.
On Friday 17 October 2025, former Bream Bay Ward Councillor Ken Couper was confirmed as Mayor, and six new members joined the Council. Matthew Yovich and David Baldwin (Bream Bay Ward), Steve Martin (Hikurangi – Coastal Ward), Tangiwai Baker (Whangārei Heads Ward), Brad Flower and Crichton Christie (Whangārei Urban Ward) are all new faces at the table.
Councillors returning this term are Scott McKenzie (Hikurangi – Coastal Ward), Simon Reid (Mangakahia – Maungatapere Ward), Deb Harding and Phoenix Ruka (Māori Ward), and Marie Olsen, Nicholas Connop and Paul Yovich (Urban Ward).
See the final results of the 2025 local elections
Mr Weston said the District-wide return of 45.5%, including the outstanding 60.6% voter turnout in the Whangārei Heads Ward (one of the highest in the country), demonstrated the Whangārei community’s commitment.
“There were many new things to get used to this year – including a change of voting system and the Māori Ward Poll – and even so, our rate of returns was higher than in 2022, which reached 43.3%.
“For many months leading up to the voting period, the Council team worked diligently behind the scenes to make the process as accessible as possible. They installed ballot boxes across the District, created an Elections Lounge at the Central Library, staffed the Elections Hub at Te Iwitahi and the voting centre at Ruakākā, and worked with a variety of community groups to increase visibility, awareness and accessibility of the 2025 local government elections.”
Mr Weston thanked former Mayor Vince Cocurullo and retiring Deputy Mayor Phil Halse, along with Councillors Patrick Holmes and Gavin Benney who decided not to stand, and former Urban Ward Councillors Carol Peters and Jayne Golightly.
“Being an elected member is a demanding job that takes courage and commitment. Those who stand give an enormous amount of energy and time to the District and its residents. I thank them all for their service and their guidance through some very challenging times."
Mr Weston said the new Council’s first month of meetings were already organised and will begin with the swearing-in ceremony at the first Council meeting on the afternoon of 5 November 2025. On 11 November 2025, that meeting will resume, and there will be a further meeting of the full Council on 27 November 2025.
See the upcoming meetings of Council