Palmerston North Election Campaigns: Spending and Outcomes Analyzed

In the recent council elections held in Palmerston North, the city witnessed significant financial investments from candidates vying for office. Among them, **Hayden Fitzgerald**, the newly elected councillor for the Te Hirawanui general ward, emerged as the highest spender, allocating **$19,568** to his campaign without declaring any donations. In contrast, **Orphée Mickalad**, who contested the mayoralty but was ultimately defeated, recorded a combined total of **$22,885** in campaign expenses.

The elections took place in October 2023, and the financial disclosures reveal the varying levels of investment candidates made in their campaigns. Fitzgerald’s spending was notable, yet it paled in comparison to Mickalad’s when factoring in both his mayoral and council campaign expenses. Mickalad spent **$16,638** on his mayoral bid and an additional **$6,247** on his council campaign.

Incumbent mayor **Grant Smith** maintained a more modest approach, spending **$4,178** during his re-election campaign. Other mayoral candidates displayed a similar trend of varying financial commitment, with **Caleb Riddick** spending **$790** primarily on advertising, while **Michael Morris** only spent **$24** on a passport photo.

Candidates in Palmerston North can spend up to **$50,000** during their campaigns, which led to some candidates securing funding from political parties. For instance, **Glen Williams** received **$5,062** from the **ACT party** and spent a total of **$16,760**, although he was not elected.

Successful candidates from the **Green Party**, **Brent Barrett** and **Kaydee Zabelin**, each reported around **$6,180** in party support and spent **$6,630** and **$6,257**, respectively. **Lorna Johnson**, backed by the **Labour Party** and local fundraisers, received just over **$10,000**, contributing to her successful campaign.

Interestingly, few candidates were obliged to disclose donations exceeding **$1,500**. Notably, **Jackie Wheeler** declared a **$1,500** donation from local businessman **Les Fugle**, leading to her total campaign spending of **$2,960**, but she was not elected.

Several candidates filed returns indicating no expenses or donations, including Riddick and **Jack Koh**. Others like **Melanie Butler** and **Zakk Rokkanno** only reported their **$200** nomination deposits, which they forfeited due to low polling. Additionally, three unsuccessful candidates, **Kayne Dunlop**, **Mark Gunning**, and **Verne Wilson**, exceeded **$4,000** in campaign spending.

Elected councillors also demonstrated a range of spending. For instance, **Billy Meehan** spent **$2,357**, while **Karen Naylor** spent **$852**. Other expenditures included **Leonie Hapeta** at **$3,007**, **Lew Findlay** at **$3,013**, and **William Wood** at **$4,222**. In the Te Pūao Māori ward, **Bonnie Kuru** spent the least at **$945**, successfully unseating **Roly Fitzgerald**, who spent **$1,464**.

The deputy mayor, **Debi Marshall-Lobb**, spent **$2,554** and retained her position. As of now, candidates **Michael Strachan** and **Tobias Nash** have yet to file their financial returns, which were due on **December 11, 2023**. Failure to submit these returns can result in a fine of **$1,000**.

The financial landscape of this election cycle highlights the significant role that campaign spending plays in local politics. As candidates navigate the complexities of fundraising and expenditures, the outcomes reflect not only their financial strategies but also the voters’ preferences in Palmerston North.