​How Ōpōtiki voted in Election 2025

Final results in the local government elections for Ōpōtiki district were shared on Friday 17 October 2025 and showed no significant change from preliminary results announced on 12 October.

• Mayor: David Moore
• Coast Māori Ward Councillor: Pāpā Wharewera
• Rural General Ward: Dean Petersen and Steve Nelson
• Urban General Ward: Shona Browne and Barry Howe
• Ōpōtiki Māori Ward: Maude Maxwell and Curley Keno
• Coast Community Board: Te ataarangi Jacqueline Parata, Allen Waenga, Tulluah Ross, and Gaylene Peggy Mihi Mariono Dudek

Ōpōtiki voter turnout rates were higher than the national average and like most rural communities, Ōpōtiki had a higher turnout rate than city centres. However, the return rate was well below previous years.

In Ōpōtiki, 46.8% of people returned their voting papers, well above the national average of around 32%. That is 3,063 people who voted in the 2025 local government elections from 6,543 registered electors* (8% less than 2022).

Ōpōtiki District Council Chief Executive, Stace Lewer, congratulated the successful candidates and spoke about the voter return rates in the district. He said that while the voter return rates were better than the national average, the lower turnout indicates that there is more work to be done to make sure the community was engaged and involved in local government elections.

“It almost goes without saying that democracy and representation are strongest when we all vote. So I’d like to acknowledge and thank all those who got involved and made sure their votes counted this year. And of course, ngā mihi nui to all our candidates, successful and unsuccessful, who put their names forward. It is a very brave thing to put yourself out there and offer to represent local voices at the council table. We were so fortunate to have a great range of candidates and had no vacancies filled unopposed and we didn’t require any expensive special elections. All our wards were competitive, and voters had great candidates to choose from. As our first election with Māori wards, there is a lot to be proud of. Thank you again,” Mr Lewer said.

Mr Lewer also reflected on the low turnout rates around the country and the national ‘soul-searching’ to help improve those figures.

“I think the reasons that people don’t vote are complex and probably different around the country. Some of it is actually the work we do between elections and making sure our communities know and understand what local councils do, why they are important and where their rates get spent.

“But there are also national changes that I am sure we’d all benefit from and I’d support some of the feedback from LGNZ [Local Government New Zealand] that there is more we can do around accessibility, visibility and engagement.

“I think so many more people this year knew about local government elections. There was national coverage from TV news and all across social media and this was due to the disappointment we all felt at the missing profiles of Māori ward candidates missing from the initial mailing of the candidate booklets. So I don’t think it was just a lack of publicity or knowing it was election time, but people still didn’t return those voting papers. Which means there are some barriers to remove around accessibility there,” Mr Lewer said.

The first council meeting will take place on Tuesday 28 October in Council Chambers. The new council and community board will be sworn into office and the mayoral chains will be handed over. There will be a pōhiri at the front of the council building (weather permitting) to welcome the new council, particularly acknowledging our first Māori ward councillors, and confirming council’s commitment to community whanaungatanga.

“Our inaugural meeting tends to be a smaller family affair mostly focussed on the new councillors and community board members and their families. But we’ll also be livestreaming it for anyone who would like to watch proceedings on the day. It won’t be a normal council meeting with formal matters to discuss, instead it will be a short ceremony with the sworn statements and a cup of tea afterwards,” Mr Lewer said.

Ends

* Enrolment figures vary by age and district around Aotearoa. In the Ōpōtiki district, voter registration rates average around 85% varying from 57% for 18-24 year olds to over almost 100% for over 65 year olds. People over 18 are required by law to be enrolled, even if you chose not to vote. You can go on the unpublished role if you choose. People can check their enrolment status and update their details at www.vote.nz