The progress results for Central Hawke’s Bay’s District Council indicate Will Foley is the new Mayor.

Foley, who was a Regional Councillor for the past six years, currently leads incumbent Alex Walker to the seat by just over 1800 votes.

At this point, expected to join Foley at the Council table will be Gerard Minehan and Kelly Annand in the At Large, Todd Chote and Pip Burne in the Ruataniwha Ward and Jerry Greer in the Aramoana- Ruahine Ward. The remaining four seats are currently too close to call. They are between Brent Muggeridge, Simon Collin and Kate Taylor in the Aramoana – Ruahine Ward, Kirsty Lawrence and Tim Gilbertson in the Ruataniwha Ward, and Amiria Nepe Apatu, currently leads the Rautahi (Māori) Ward, ahead of Te Ata Kura Huata.

The progress results show that the district has voted to remove the Māori Ward after this triennium.

“Congratulations to Will and the new Council. The organisation and I are looking forward to working alongside the new council team to continue to deliver on the ambitions of the community in the new triennium,” Chief Executive Doug Tate said

“Thank you also to everyone that stood, voted or supported people to vote or stand in the 2025 Local Government Elections.

“To Alex – nga mihi nui ki a koe - thank you. Thank you for the countless hours of life away from family and friends, working to progress Tamatea – Central Hawke’s Bay”.

Preliminary results are due from Electionz by Sunday when all ordinary votes will have been processed and counted. Official results, including Special Votes, will be announced on Thursday 16 October.

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