Eighty-seven candidates are standing for Kāpiti Coast Council positions at this year’s local government elections. In addition are two Kāpiti candidates standing for election to the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
This election Kāpiti Council election staff have actively promoted participation, with the final total well in excess of the 64 who stood in 2022.
Six candidates have put their hand up for the Mayoral race, including incumbent Mayor Janet Holborow. Challengers include Rob McCann, who finished a close second at the last election and Martin Halliday who also stood for the mayoralty in 2022. Newcomer to the Mayoral race is current District-wide Ward councillor Liz Koh who topped the poll last election. Dean Harris is standing under the We Love Kāpiti banner in his first challenge and another newcomer to challenge is Kim Hobson from Paraparaumu. Mr Hobson and Ms Holborow are the only two standing for Mayor only with the other four candidates also standing for a Ward position.
For the first time Kāpiti Council will have a Maori Ward councillor and that race has drawn an impressive field of six candidates.
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is a two-runner contest with current GW councillor Penny Gaylor being challenged by Sam Ferguson who is currently elected to the Horizons Regional Council but is now back resident in Kāpiti.
Two current councillors are stepping down – Kathy Spiers and Sophie Handford.
Every seat is being contested and there has been very high interest in Community Board positions.
The full list of candidates is here:
Mayor
(1 vacancy)
- Kim Hobson – Independent
- Janet Holborow – Independent
- Liz Koh – Independent
- Dean Harris – We Love Kāpiti
- Martin Halliday – Independent
- Rob McCann
Councillors
Districtwide (2 vacancies)
- Liz Koh – Independent
- Grant Bartlett – Independent
- Lawrence Kirby – Independent
- Joanne Welch – We love Kāpiti
- Jackie Elliott – Independent
- Marek Willis
- Rob McCann
- Gavin Welsh – Independent
- Jo Turner – Independent
Kāpiti Coast Māori Ward (1 vacancy)
- Deanna Rudd
- Jason Thurston – New Zealand Māori Council and Paraparaumu Māori Committee
- Brian Ruawai-Hamilton – We Love Kāpiti
- Jordon Wansbrough
- Rangi Halbert – Independent
- Himiona Grace – Te Pati Māori
Ōtaki General Ward (1 vacancy)
- Heniti Buick
- Shelly Warwick
- Brent Frogley – We Love Kāpiti
- Cam Butler – Independent
- Rob Kofoed
Waikanae General Ward (2 vacancies)
- Steven Botica
- Phil Byrne – Independent
- Martin Frauenstein – We Love Kāpiti
- Jocelyn Prvanov – Independent
- Dean Harris – We Love Kāpiti
- Chris Maclean – Independent
- Peter Bollman – Independent
- Nigel Wilson
- Michael Moore
Paraparaumu General Ward (3 vacancies)
- Chris Harwood – We Love Kāpiti
- Dave Freeman
- Glen Cooper – Independent
- Glen Olsen – Independent
- Paul Baggott – Independent
- Martin Halliday – Independent
- Bernie Randall – Independent
- Murray Lobb
- Euon Murrell – Independent
- Mark Souness – Independent
- Fiona Vining
Paekākāriki-Raumati General Ward (1 vacancy)
- Bede Laracy – Independent
- Richard Young – Independent
- Zelda Edwards
Community board members
Ōtaki Community Board (4 vacancies)
- Rhyna Taratoa
- Jackie Elliott – Independent
- Simon Black – Independent
- Cam Butler – Independent
- Sherril Moody
- Chris Papps
- Angela Buswell
Waikanae Community Board (4 vacancies)
- Phil Byrne – Independent
- John McCormick
- Tonchi Begovich – Independent
- Peter Bollman – Independent
- Richard Mansell
- Michael Moore
Paraparaumu Community Board (4 vacancies)
- Guy Burns – Independent
- Michelle Scullion
- Bernie Randall – Independent
- David Ogden – Independent
- Clint Smith – Independent
- Marco Zeeman – Independent
- Kat Hardisty
- Glen Olsen – Independent
- Kathy Spiers – Independent
- Doug Beilman – Independent
- Karl Webber
- Gideon Soares – Independent
Raumati Community Board (4 vacancies)
- Sue Harris – Independent
- Timothy Sutton
- Jonny Best – Independent
- Ann-Maree Ellison – Independent
- Zelda Edwards
- Afi’a Sulu Fiti
- Tarn Sheerin
- Fiona Vining
Paekākāriki Community Board (4 vacancies)
- Tina Pope
- Melissa Bryant
- Kelsey Lee
- Elyse Robêrt
- Himiona Grace
Greater Wellington Regional Council
Kāpiti Coast General Constituency:
- Sam Ferguson
- Penny Gaylor