Auckland Local Elections Conclude with Wayne Brown’s Re-election

The final results of the 2025 Auckland local elections have been officially confirmed, marking a significant moment for the city. Voters cast a total of 350,677 ballots, representing a turnout of 29.3% of enrolled voters. This figure falls short of the 35.5% turnout recorded in the 2022 elections.

Out of more than 10,000 special votes received, only 5,838 were validated, as nearly half were deemed invalid due to issues such as incorrect or missing declaration details. Despite this, the election saw a strong engagement from the public, as noted by Lou-Ann Ballantyne, Auckland Council’s general manager of governance and engagement. She expressed satisfaction with the record-breaking number of special votes, stating, “This unprecedented number of special votes shows people were motivated to participate.”

Wayne Brown has been re-elected as Auckland’s mayor, securing a total of 180,130 votes. His closest competitor, Kerrin Leoni, garnered 77,577 votes. As the mayor prepares to begin his new term, Ballantyne extended congratulations to all elected members, welcoming them to the 2025-2028 electoral period.

Changes Within the Council

The election results revealed minimal changes among ward councillors, with five new councillors joining the council’s governing body alongside the returning mayor. Notably, Bo Burns, owner of Times Media, was elected to represent the Howick ward, which consequently led to her stepping down from her leading position on the Howick Local Board. Luke Collings will now take her place on the local board.

In one of the tightest races, Bianca Ranson won a seat on the Waiheke Local Board by a margin of just 18 votes, defeating Paul Walden. Meanwhile, newcomer Ingrid Papau secured the eighth seat in Henderson-Massey with 6,514 votes, displacing Linda Cooper, who held the provisional position by only 20 votes.

In the Puketāpapa Local Board, Rowan Cant and Brendan Larmer were elected in fifth and sixth places, respectively, narrowly defeating Raphaela Rose, who missed out by just 46 votes. In the Albert-Eden Local Board’s Maungawhau subdivision, Michelle Thorp secured the fourth seat with 4,376 votes, surpassing former board member Rex Smith by a margin of 190 votes.

Looking Ahead

The official count signifies that a total of 49 newly elected members will join 123 returning members to govern Tāmaki Makaurau. The electoral term will commence with inaugural ceremonies, where the newly elected members will be sworn in. Ballantyne stated, “I am especially looking forward to onboarding all 172 members to set them up for success for the next three years.”

To further enhance the electoral process, Auckland Council plans to conduct a full evaluation and review of this year’s elections. The findings will be made publicly available, ensuring transparency as the council looks ahead to future elections.