Newcomer May Boost New Plymouth Council Opposition

Monday, 13 October 2025, 11:00 am
Article: Craig Ashworth - Local Democracy Reporting

A newcomer candidate has gained an edge on a sitting councillor as New Plymouth's election results near completion, with just special votes still to be counted. 

In Kaitake-Ngāmotu ward EJ Barrett is provisionally elected 151 votes ahead of Bryan Vickery in Sunday's preliminary results, neatly reversing an election-day deficit of 152. 

New mayor Max Brough has five solid supporters amongst 14 councillors, needing to find just two more supporters for measures to haul-back on spending – including a rates cap. 

Brough could likely work with committed centrist Vickery on some measures, but if Barrett beats him the mayor has several other councillors to woo. Barrett stands clearly left, opposing rates caps and using the election slogan ‘Save our Libraries’ after 75 jobs were recently cut to squeeze council costs.

Brough’s mayoral rival Sarah Lucas lopped 50 votes off Christine Fabish’s election-day lead in Kōhanga Moa ward, narrowing the gap to 126. 

Like Barrett, Lucas deliberately campaigned for special votes – but 126 is a steep hill to climb in Inglewood’s rural ward, with relatively few voters. 

Gina Blackburn holds a widening lead of 200 votes over Ian Cummings in the North ward, provisionally the first ever Māori wahine elected to a general ward in New Plymouth. 

Incumbent Dinnie Moeahu has a narrow advantage of 133 votes over ally councillor Amanda Clinton-Gohdes for the last spot in the District-wide ward. 

All Taranaki’s five Māori wards were voted down in Government-mandated referendums so will disappear after this term. 

The contest to be the last councillor for Stratford District’s tiny Māori ward remained too close to call: David Chadwick had 47, Karley Hemopo 42 and Hemi Haddon 34. 

Brendon Gernhoffer was just 29 votes shy of Jamie Bertie’s 999 in a tussle for the final seat in Stratford’s Urban ward. 

In Taranaki Regional Council's New Plymouth constituency Nicola Ngarewa leapfrogged a spot but John Maxwel is still 862 ahead, poised for the fifth seat. 

South Taranaki District councillor Te Aroha Hohaia’s election-day tally almost doubled to 1098 in Sunday’s results, but Garth Weir remains 744 votes ahead for Te Hāwera ward's last seat. 

-LDR is local body reporting funded by RNZ and NZ on Air

© Scoop Media

Local Democracy Reporting

Content from the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) service is published by Scoop as a registered New Zealand Media Outlet LDR Partner.