Auckland local elections results - newcomers and close calls in councillor’s race
As at 2.30pm, results for provisionally elected ward councillors are now available - here are the highlights for the wards contest.
See the full list of progress results at: voteauckland.co.nz/results2025
Closest calls
The race is tight in Albany, where Victoria Short (Fix Auckland) has been provisionally elected to her first ward councillor role with 12,862 votes. Incumbents John Watson and Wayne Walker are vying closely for the second seat; Watson has 12,299 votes while Walker is hot on his heels with 11,851 votes.
Who holds the lead for Howick?
With only one incumbent vying to return to one of Howick Ward’s two seats, the other seat is anyone’s race. Bo Burns (Howick Local Board Deputy Chair) is currently in the lead with 10,222 votes to potentially be Howick’s newest ward councillor – a seat, alongside potentially returning councillor Maurice Williamson with 9,801 votes. Paul Young, who lost his seat to Williamson in 2022, is behind Williamson with 7,951 votes.
Manurewa-Papakura, meet your provisionally elected councillors
With a clear lead to represent Manurewa-Papakura Ward for his fourth term is Daniel Newman with 12,965 votes. Standing alongside Newman in the Manurewa-Papakura Action Team is former Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata in second place with 10,927 votes – ahead of Joseph Allan with 5,966 votes.
North Shore’s newcomer
Richard Hills, a councillor for the past three terms, is again a clear frontrunner in the North Shore with 15,682 votes. Sitting not far behind is former Kaipātiki Local Board chair for the last term, John Gillon, who currently has 12,976 votes. Gillon is sitting ahead of Danielle Grant with 9,592 votes.
Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa's returning councillors
In Albert-Eden-Puketāpapa, incumbent councillors Christine Fletcher and Julie Fairey have both retained their seats. Fletcher has received 12,401 votes so far, while Fairey has 11,795.
Whau future councillor
Leading the charge in Whau Ward is Labour-affiliated candidate Sarah Paterson-Hamlin, who has a clear lead with 3,908 votes. In second place, 2022 mayoral candidate Craig Lord has so far gained 2,658 votes.
Manukau Ward's returning councillors
Incumbents Alf Filipaina and Lotu Fuli look set to both comfortably return for another term in the Manukau Ward. Filipaina is currently in a strong lead with 10,826 votes, joined by Fuli with 9,611 votes. Next up is Carol Ah-Voa with 4,513 votes.
What's happening in Waitākere Ward
So far, Shane Henderson with 10,715 votes, and Ken Turner with 6,975 votes, appear to be returning as councillors for Waitākere Ward.
Lee returns to Waitematā and Gulf Ward
In Waitematā, incumbent Mike Lee is leading with 6,145 votes for the one and only councillor seat, ahead of Patrick Reynolds, currently with 4,241.
Ōrākei and Rodney unopposed
Ward councillors, Desley Simpson in Ōrākei and Greg Sayers in Rodney have already been elected by default as there were no other candidates contesting either of these seats.
What’s next?
Preliminary results will be announced on Monday 13 October – which is expected to be 97 percent of votes counted, including Saturday morning’s votes.
For everything there is to know about elections, visit Vote Auckland.
Mayoral race
Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson has phoned Wayne Brown to inform him that, based on votes counted so far, he is provisionally elected as mayor for the 2025-2028 electoral term.
“I have spoken to Wayne Brown and congratulated him on being the provisionally elected mayor,” says Phil Wilson. “This signals the beginning of a new electoral term and we look forward to hearing more results in the next few hours.”
Voting in the local elections closed at midday. By 1.30pm on Saturday 11 October, with 80 to 90 per cent of votes counted so far, Wayne Brown is leading the mayoralty race with 146,642 votes, ahead of Kerrin Leoni who has 56,612 votes. These results are still subject to change as today’s votes and special votes are still to be counted.
Here are the top three candidates leading the mayoral race:
- Wayne Brown 146,642 votes
- Kerrin Leoni 56,612 votes
- Ted Johnston 21,661 votes
See the full list of progress results at: voteauckland.co.nz/results2025
Auckland Council CEO Phil Wilson calling successful mayoral candidate Wayne Brown.
Auckland Council CEO Phil Wilson calling successful mayoral candidate Wayne Brown
The council’s General Manager Governance and Engagement, Lou-Ann Ballantyne is pleased with the council’s elections campaign and efforts to reach eligible voters.
“Thank you to every Aucklander who has participated in this new chapter for Tāmaki Makaurau. It is really encouraging to see people taking part in our region’s future,” says Ms Ballantyne.
“At this point in the outcome, it’s relatively early days as these results are subject to change with Saturday morning’s votes and special votes still to be counted. However, we are very happy with the work we’ve put in to engage as many Aucklanders as possible.
“My team and I are looking forward to meeting some of our newly elected members as well as those returning with renewed energy for Tāmaki Makaurau,” she says.
Stay tuned for ward councillor and local board provisional results to be published shortly.
