If you hadn’t noticed increased social media activity referencing that 2025 is a local body election year, you may have picked up on it via other sources.
On Friday (July 4) candidate nominations opened as well as the roll for public inspection.
While candidate nominations don’t close until midday August 1 – with candidate names publicly notified on August 6 – this October’s elections will see one longstanding Taupō District councillor vacate his chair.
John Williamson, first elected 2013, has signalled he will not be seeking re-election meaning here will be at least one new face around the council table.
Of the incumbent councillors, Kirsty Trueman*, Mangakino-Pouakani Ward, unopposed in 2022, is the longest serving, having first been elected in 2010 – so seeking a sixth term if she stands again.
Anna Park who resigned during the year was also first elected in 2010.
Christine Rankin was the highest polling Taupō Ward councillor in 2022 and first elected in 2016. She was Deputy Mayor in 2019, but a little controversially not in 2022, despite the role often going to the highest polling candidate; David Trewavas instead choosing Kevin Taylor.
Those looking at a third term, first elected in 2019, are Yvonne Westerman (second highest polling candidate in 2022) and, Kevin Taylor (third highest 2022) in the Taupō Ward and Kylie Leonard (Taupō East Rural Ward).
Leonard stood unopposed in 2022 but had to contest the ward in 2019 beating Chris Te Whare by just over 60 votes, 355 to 292.
Those seeking a second term for the Taupō Ward include Rachel Shepherd (sixth highest polling candidate 2022) and Duncan Campbell who first stood in 2019 when he finished 10th but in 2022 got in as the seventh polling candidate, 200 votes ahead of Jane Arnott.
Sandra Greenslade (Tūrangi-Tongariro Ward) was also first elected in 2022, winning the southern ward out of a field of four, with 518 votes, ahead of Clint Green on 351.
Also, both only one term councillors so far are the two Te Papamārearea Māori Ward councillors, Danny Loughlin who stood unsuccessfully in the Taupō-Kaingaroa Ward in 2016, finishing one place off being elected, and Karam Fletcher*.
In 2022 four candidates contested this new ward with Fletcher polling 617, ahead of Loughlin’s 555 votes.
The ward, introduced at the 2022 election, will be the subject of a referendum alongside the poll to choose councillors and mayor as last year’s Local Government (Māori Wards) Amendment Bill requires councils that brought in Māori wards without polling residents to either hold a binding poll this year or remove Māori seats from the election.
The ward will remain until at least 2028 when the results of the poll will come into effect.
Overall voter turnout in Taupō over the past five elections has varied between 45 and 55 per cent (see list below).
Incumbent Mayor David Trewavas is standing again and if re-elected will be the longest serving mayor in the district’s history.
* Have not yet confirmed their intentions with LakeFM.
Mich'eal Downard, Taupō-Rotorua Ward representative on the Waikato Regional Council, will also be contesting the position again.
Previous Mayors
Joan Williamson, 1989-2001 four terms (also the last Taupō Borough Council Mayor 1986-1989 before local body reorganisation)
Clayton Stent, 2001-2007 two terms
Rick Cooper 2007-2013 two terms
David Trewavas 2013-2025 four terms
Election returns
2010 – 54.83 per cent of votes
2013 – 48.48 per cent of voters
2016 – 50.15 per cent of voters, 11,856
2019 – 52.27 per cent of voters, 12,967 (excluding special votes)
2022 – 46.06 per cent of voters, 12,537 (excluding special votes)
Other important dates:
Electoral roll closes midday August 1.
Voting opens September 9.
Last day for posting a vote October 7, after which papers must be dropped into a council ballot box with voting finally closing midday October 11.
Declaration of final results October 16-22.
Swearing in ceremonies for councillors October/November.
Number of councillors
The 13-person Taupō District Council, a mayor and 12 councillors, draws representatives from five wards, including Mangakino-Pouakani (1), Taupō (7), Taupō East Rural (1), Tūrangi-Tongariro (1) and two from Te Papamārearea Māori Ward.
