Victoria Short Shocks Albany Ward, Ends Watson-Walker Alliance

The political landscape in Auckland’s Albany ward has shifted dramatically as Victoria Short has unseated the longstanding alliance of John Watson and Wayne Walker. In a surprising election outcome, Short topped the poll with a margin of 563 votes over Watson, who has held a prominent position in local governance. Walker trailed further behind, finishing 448 votes below Watson, and subsequently lost his bid for one of the two available seats in the ward.

The Albany ward, which spans from Waiwera in the north to Whenuapai and Hobsonville in the west, has long been dominated by Watson and Walker. Short’s victory marks a significant change in the region’s political dynamics, particularly as this election follows her previous attempts, where she finished as the runner-up to Walker and Watson during the last council elections three years ago.

As the vote counting continues, there remains a possibility that the second seat could still shift, although Walker has expressed skepticism about this outcome. He has pledged to support Short, referring to her as a “wonderful friend.”

Short was not available for comment following her victory but attended an election night party hosted by Mayor Wayne Brown. She is aligned with Brown’s Fix Auckland ticket, which positions itself against what Brown has described as his “most annoying councillors,” namely Walker and Watson.

The final results of the election will be confirmed after the counting of thousands of remaining votes. This development has the potential to reshape future council decisions and priorities in Auckland, as Short’s perspective and policies come into focus.

The end of the Watson-Walker alliance signals a new chapter in Albany’s political narrative, as the community watches closely how these changes will impact local governance.