Sweeping Changes Expected At Selwyn Council Table

Friday, 4 July 2025, 3:51 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Big changes are coming around the Selwyn District Council table this election.

At least half of the sitting councillors won’t be seeking re-election.

Debra Hasson (Springs ward) has joined Shane Epiha (Ellesmere), Grant Miller (Springs), Bob Mugford (Malvern), and Phil Dean (Rolleston) in indicating they will not stand again.

Springs Ward Malcolm Lyall and Rolleston’s Nicole Reid are yet to announce their decision.
Third-term mayor Sam Broughton is seeking a fourth term and will be challenged by councillor Lydia Gliddon.

Cr Elizabeth Mundt (Ellesmere) and Sophie McInnes (Rolleston) will seek re-election.

There is a host of candidates looking to fill the vacancies with the new election structure.

As a result of the representation review decision in April, two councillors will be elected at large (district-wide), one councillor for each of the Tawera Malvern and Te Waihora Ellesmere wards (that previously had two councillors each), and three councillors each from the Kā Puna Springs and Kā Mānia Rolleston wards.

Tracey Macleod and Sam Wilshire have said they will chase the new at-large seats.

In the Springs ward, there are Aaron McGlinchy, Denise Carrick, and Act Party candidate Zoran Rakovic. Earlier this year, Act Leader David Seymour announced it would stand candidates in local council elections for the first time.

Rakovic said that he is being endorsed by the Act Party but is running to serve the ratepayers first and foremost.

“The priority is always to listen to the community and be accountable to those who pay the rates.

“ACT supports giving communities more voice, not less, and I am committed to representing my constituents above any party line."

Rolleston has Moneel Pratap, Rhys Laraman, Jo Morris, and 18-year-old Avi Singh Aulak.

Aulak said he accepts some may see his age as a disadvantage.

“But my age is one of my greatest strengths.

“I understand what it's like to grow up in Rolleston today. I bring the voice of young people, a group often underrepresented in council decisions.”

In Tawera Malvern, John Verry and Sharn Nu’u are both looking to step up from the community board to the council table.

More candidates are expected to come forward now that nominations have opened today [July 4]. Nominations close at midday on August 1, ahead of the elections in October.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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