Elections 2025
FINAL RESULTS CONFIRMED BELOW
The final result for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council elections held on Saturday 11th October is as follows.
Mayoralty Votes Received
DENYER, James 4,424
MURRAY-BENGE, Margaret (Independent) 2,737
JOYCE, Rodney (Independent) 1,890
DALLY, Grant (Basics Done Better) 1,743
THWAITES, Don 1,596
HOLYOAKE, John (Independent) 1,191
BORELL, Suaree 951
BORELL-FAA'SOO, Danielle 295
INFORMAL 57
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 414
James DENYER is declared elected.
Katikati-Waihī Beach General Ward (2 vacancies) Votes Received
SOLE, Allan 2,036
JOYCE, Rodney (Independent) 1,919
CLEMENTS, John 1,350
EARL, Andy 1,315
STEVENSON, Wayne (Bringing our communities together) 1,205
THOMAS, Candice 559
INFORMAL 16
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 93
Rodney JOYCE and Allan SOLE are declared elected.
Maketu-Te Puke General Ward (3 vacancies) Votes Received
BEECH, Shane William 2,147
DALLY, Grant (Basics Done Better) 2,068
RAE, Laura 1,550
WICHERS, Andy 1,416
SINGH MANN, Manvir 1,025
BOWDEN, John 783
INFORMAL 2
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 75
Shane William BEECH, Grant DALLY and Laura RAE are declared elected.
Kaimai General Ward (3 vacancies) Votes Received
MURRAY-BENGE, Margaret (Independent) 2,419
COXHEAD, Tracey 2,383
ELVIN, Graeme 2,039
GRAINGER, Murray 1,909
THWAITES, Don 1,875
DEVER, Chris 1,867
COWLEY, Drew 681
BORELL-FAA'SOO, Danielle 460
LEAF, Destiny 456
INFORMAL 3
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 88
Tracey COXHEAD, Graeme ELVIN and Margaret MURRAY-BENGE are declared elected.
Waka Kai Uru Māori Ward (1 vacancy) Votes Received
DINSDALE, Darlene (Independent) 531
BIDOIS, Carlton 421
BORELL, Suaree (Toitū te whenua - Toitū te Tiriti) 421
INFORMAL 1
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 35
Darlene DINSDALE is declared elected.
Katikati Community Board (4 vacancies) Votes Received
CLEMENTS, John 1,859
HENRY, Anne 1,850
SAYER, James (Independent) 1,595
MAYO, Norm 1,376
EBERT, Barry (Independent) 1,351
MCCLENAGHAN, Annie 1,120
THOMAS, Candice 825
SINGH, Puran 675
INFORMAL 0
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 92
John CLEMENTS, Anne HENRY, Norm MAYO and James SAYER are declared elected.
Maketu Community Board (4 vacancies) Votes Received
WATERHOUSE, Aleisha 296
THOMAS, Cecil (Moki) 249
ELLIOTT, Sue 228
MOKO, Weina 226
WALTERS, Ieni (Beau) 221
SIMPSON, Stephan 212
INFORMAL 0
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 24
Sue ELLIOTT, Weina MOKO, Cecil (Moki) THOMAS and Aleisha WATERHOUSE are declared elected.
Waihī Beach Community Board (4 vacancies) Votes Received
STEVENSON, Wayne (Bringing our communities together) 947
KELLY, Gail 808
GOUDIE, Ross 721
GUPTILL, Heather (Independent) 713
INGLIS, Annette 577
MOWAT, Nicky 566
INFORMAL 0
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 51
Ross GOUDIE, Heather GUPTILL, Gail KELLY and Wayne STEVENSON are declared elected.
Ōmokoroa Community Board Subdivision (2 vacancies) Votes Received
DEVER, Chris 1,494
MARSHALL, Murray (Experienced leadership for Ōmokoroa) 1,303
HUGHES, Allan 1,121
INFORMAL 0
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 120
Chris DEVER and Murray MARSHALL are declared elected.
Kaimai West Community Board Subdivision (2 vacancies) Votes Received
AKUHATA, Tina 840
TUHAKARAINA, Tania 803
PALM, Cherie 577
INFORMAL 0
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 427
Tina AKUHATA and Tania TUHAKARAINA are declared elected.
Kaimai East Community Board Subdivision (2 vacancies) Votes Received
As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Bevan RAKOIA and Keith (Ski) WISNESKY are elected unopposed.
Te Puke Community Board Subdivision (3 vacancies) Votes Received
SNELL, Dale 1,646
SUMMERHAYS, Karen (Your experienced Community Voice) 1,618
WILLIAMS, Marara 1,170
ELLIS, Kassie 1,136
INFORMAL 1
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 170
Dale SNELL, Karen SUMMERHAYS and Marara WILLIAMS are declared elected.
Eastern Community Board Subdivision (2 vacancies) Votes Received
As the number of nominations received did not exceed the number of vacancies, Sally BENNING and Manvir SINGH MANN are elected unopposed.
Māori Ward Poll - Western Bay of Plenty DC Votes Received
I VOTE TO REMOVE THE MĀORI WARD 8,462
I VOTE TO KEEP THE MĀORI WARD 5,892
INFORMAL 0
BLANK VOTING PAPERS 944
I declare that the option to REMOVE THE MĀORI WARD has received the most votes. The poll result is binding and will apply for Western Bay of Plenty District Council elections to be held in 2028 and 2031.
The voter return was 38.06%, being 15,301 votes, including special votes.
Confirmed Candidates for Elections 2025
Congratulations to the following who are standing in the Western Bay of Plenty District Council Election 2025.
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Mayoralty (1 Vacancy) | Suaree Borell | whakamarama01@gmail.com | 021 570 554 |
| Grant Dally | tepuke2@gmail.com | 022 123 6850 | |
| James Denyer | jamesdenyer4mayor@gmail.com | 021 858 007 | |
| Danielle Borell Faa'soo | youthvote2025@gmail.com | 022 514 6169 | |
| John Holyoake | johnholyoake@hotmail.com | 027 829 1912 | |
| Rodney Joyce | rodney@szf.co.nz | 027 374 7933 | |
| Margaret Murray-Benge | margaretmurray@outlook.co.nz | 027 221 0288 | |
| Don Thwaites | donthw@gmail.com | 027 552 5103 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Katikati-Waihī Beach General Ward - (2 Vacancies) | John Clements | john@johnclements.co.nz | 021 717 025 |
| Andy Earl | andy@aeinsurance.co.nz | 027 339 0997 | |
| Rodney Joyce | rodney@szf.co.nz | 027 374 7933 | |
| Allan Sole | Allan.Sole@outlook.com | 027 497 7250 | |
| Wayne Stevenson | waynepstevenson@gmail.com | 0204 117 7508 | |
| Candice Thomas | candice.thomas@ranginui.co.nz | 0204 830 822 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Maketu-Te Puke General Ward - (3 Vacancies) | Shane William Beech | bhp@xtra.co.nz | 027 539 2930 |
| John Bowden | johnbowden56@gmail.com | 021 717 738 | |
| Grant Dally | tepuke2@gmail.com | 022 123 6850 | |
| Laura Rae | laurarae131@gmail.com | 021 027 92627 | |
| Manvir Singh Mann | mannjatt6266@gmail.com | 0204 140 1706 | |
| Andy Wichers | abayeme01@gmail.com | 0204 402 022 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Kaimai General Ward - (3 Vacancies) | Drew Cowley | drufuss@xtra.co.nz | 027 302 6703 |
| Tracey Coxhead | tracey@traceycoxhead.co.nz | 027 681 7391 | |
| Chris Dever | elections@Dever.net.nz | 027 449 7589 | |
| Graeme Elvin | graeme.elvin@outlook.com | 021 939 967 | |
| Danielle Borell Faa'soo | youthvote2025@gmail.com | 022 514 6169 | |
| Murray Grainger | murray@graingers.nz | 027 936 7994 | |
| Destiny Leaf | destinyileaf@gmail.com | ||
| Margaret Murray-Benge | margaretmurray@outlook.co.nz | 027 221 0388 | |
| Don Thwaites | donthw@gmail.com | 027 552 5103 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Waka Kai Uru Māori Ward - (1 Vacancy) | Carlton Bidois | carltonbidois@xtra.co.nz | 022 091 0557 |
| Suaree Borell | whakamarama01@gmail.com | 021 570 554 | |
| Darlene Dinsdale | darlenedinsdale@gmail.com | 021 023 51968 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Katikati Community Board - (4 Vacancies) | John Clements | john@johnclements.co.nz | 021 717 025 |
| Barry Ebert | barry.ebert57@gmail.com | 021 490 860 | |
| Anne Henry | annehenry149@gmail.co.nz | 027 698 9275 | |
| Norm Mayo | normmayo@xtra.co.nz | 07 549 0326 | |
| Annie McClenaghan | anniemcclenaghan@gmail.com | ||
| James Sayer | jamesiswhere@gmail.com | 021 085 46535 | |
| Puran Singh | puransingh1313@gmail.com | 027 478 7262 | |
| Candice Thomas | candice.thomas@ranginui.co.nz | 0204 830 822 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Maketu Community Board - (4 Vacancies) | Sue Elliott | soo_elliott1@hotmail.com | 021 246 9006 |
| Weina Moko | weina357@gmail.com | 027 366 8919 | |
| Stephan Simpson | Steve.Marama@xtra.co.nz | 027 295 1474 | |
| Cecil (Moki) Thomas | |||
| Ieni (Beau) Walters | toialogging2018limited@gmail.com | 027 204 7043 | |
| Aleisha Waterhouse | |||
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Waihī Beach Community Board - (4 vacancies) | Ross Goudie | airg@xtra.co.nz | 027 256 6151 |
| Heather Guptill | heatherguptill2@gmail.com | 022 098 1668 | |
| Annette Inglis | alinglis214@gmail.com | 022 353 2906 | |
| Gail Kelly | gailkelly81@gmail.com | 022 622 3277 | |
| Nicky Mowat | nickmowat@xtra.co.nz | 021 898 590 | |
| Wayne Stevenson | waynepstevenson@gmail.com | 0204 117 7508 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Ōmokoroa Community Board Subdivision - (2 Vacancies) | Chris Dever | elections@Dever.net.nz | 027 449 7589 |
| Allan Hughes | 54days@gmail.com | 027 757 7109 | |
| Murray Marshall | murray.marshall.omokoroa@gmail.com | 027 600 7368 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Kaimai West Community Board Subdivision - (2 Vacancies) | Tina Akuhata | tinaakuhata@hotmail.com | 022 381 9759 |
| Cherie Palm | raeven752@gmail.com | 021 170 9584 | |
| Tania Tuhakaraina | tdtuhakaraina10@gmail.com | ||
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Kaimai East Community Board Subdivision - (2 Vacancies) | Bevan Rakoia | bev_a_lev@yahoo.com | 027 461 2127 |
| Keith Wisnesky | skiglo@xtra.co.nz | 029 275 0178 | |
| * Congratulations to the above who have been elected unopposed for the two vacant seats. | |||
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Te Puke Community Board Subdivision - (3 Vacancies) | Kassie Ellis | ellis.kassie@gmail.com | |
| Dale Snell | dalesnell@live.com | 027 462 8940 | |
| Karen Summerhays | ksummerhays011@gmail.com | 021 043 7858 | |
| Marara Williams | mararawilliams30@gmail.com | 0204 132 6356 | |
| Position | Name | Contact Email | Contact Phone |
| Eastern Community Board Subdivision - (2 Vacancies) | Sally Benning | sallybenningb@gmail.com | 027 485 3019 |
| Manvir Singh Mann | mannjatt6266@gmail.com | 0204 140 1706 | |
| * Congratulations to the above who have been elected unopposed for the two vacant seats. | |||
90-second candidate videos
The following candidates took up the opportunity to film a 90-sec video as part of this year's election promotions.
- Allan Hughes
- Allan Sole
- Andy Earl
- Anne Henry
- Candice Thomas
- Carlton Bidois
- Chris Dever
- Danielle Borell Faa'soo
- Don Thwaites
- Darlene Dinsdale
- Destiny Leaf
- Gail Kelly
- Drew Cowley
- Grant Dally
- Graeme Elvin
- James Denyer
- James Sayer
- Heather Guptill
- John Clements
- John Bowden
- John Holyoake
- Karen Summerhays
- Manvir Singh
- Marara Williams
- Moki Thomas
- Murray Marshall
- Puran Singh
- Rodney Joyce
- Ross Goudie
- Shane Beech
- Suaree Borell
- Wayne Stevenson
- Tracey Coxhead
- Laura Rae
- Sue Elliott
- Tania Tuhakaraina
- Tina Akuhata
- Murray Grainger
- Margaret Murray-Benge
- Nicky Mowat
