Candidate Loses One Vote Lead As Masterton Election Results Locked In

Friday, 17 October 2025, 6:07 pm
Article: Emily Ireland - Local Democracy Reporter

Just one vote separated Masterton Trust Lands Trust hopefuls David McHattie and Ben Matthews, preliminary election results showed. 

But with special votes counted and official results now declared, Matthews, who was biting on the heels of McHattie, has now secured a six-year term on the trust. 

Matthews, who ended up polling third highest (2612 votes), will join the trust with fellow successful candidates Lyn Patterson (3777), Gary Caffell (3108), and Craig Bowyer (2582). 

McHattie narrowly missed out on a spot with 2566 votes. 

In a statement, Matthews said he appreciated the support and was thankful for the opportunity to give back to the community and “help build a strong future for Masterton with all our voices represented, especially that of our Māori community”. 

The Masterton Trust Lands Trust is a unique community-owned charitable trust that manages a large property portfolio of which the income is returned to the community in the form of grants. 

The trust’s focus, as set out in legislation, is to support educational, art, and cultural opportunities for the community. 

Other local body election results have also been confirmed across Wairarapa. 

Steve Cretney secured Carterton’s mayoralty with 1733 votes, Bex Johnson secured Masterton’s mayoralty with 2844 votes, and Fran Wilde secured South Wairarapa’s mayoralty with 3381 votes. 

Successful council and community board candidates remained unchanged from the preliminary results published earlier this week. 

The Greytown Community Board results were however a close call, with just seven votes separating successful candidate Jolene Woodcock from fellow candidate Michelle Dawson who missed out on a spot on the board. 

Masterton’s voter return was 47.29%, being 9564 votes, Carterton was 53.36%, being 4159 votes, and South Wairarapa was 59.13%, being 5598 votes. 

In Masterton, 4810 voted to keep the Māori ward and 4299 voted to remove it. 

In South Wairarapa, 2911 voted to keep the Māori ward and 2291 voted to remove it. 

Successful candidates Masterton District Council: Bex Johnson (Mayor), Jamie Falloon, Stella Lennox, David Holmes, Tim Nelson, Craig Bowyer, Gary Caffell, Brent Goodwin, Waireka Collings. 

Carterton District Council: Steve Cretney (Mayor), Lou Newman, Grace Ayling, Jane Burns, Steve Laurence, Brian Deller, Steve Gallon, Simon Casey, Rachel Round. 

South Wairarapa District Council: Fran Wilde (Mayor), Collier Isaacs, Simone Baker, Martin Bosley, Rachel Clarke, Rupert Watson, Colin Olds, Rob Taylor, Aidan Ellims, Chris Archer, Andrea Rutene.

Greytown Community Board: Neil Morison, Louise Brown, Diane Mackenzie, Jolene Woodcock.

Featherston Community Board: Warren Maxwell, Tui Rutherford, Anne Hynds, Tanja Schubert-McArthur. 

Martinborough Community Board (elected unopposed): Ross Andrew, Nana Boyle, James Brodie, Mel Maynard. 

Greytown District Trust Lands Trust: Phil Holden, Anna Cassie, David Brosnan. 

Masterton Trust Lands Trust: Lyn Patterson, Gary Caffell, Ben Matthews, Craig Bowyer. 

Masterton Community Trust (elected unopposed): Mena Antonio, Lucy Griffiths, Bex Johnson, Sandy Ryan, Leanne Southey, Joanne Waitoa. 

Montfort Trimble Foundation (elected unopposed): Stan Braaksma, Jason Christensen. 

Greater Wellington Regional Council (Wairarapa representative): Adrienne Staples. 

-Local Democracy Reporting is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air

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