ACT Local has selected Phill Houlihan a long-time Porirua resident with experience across trades, business, and law, as its candidate for the Pāuatahanui Ward in the upcoming Porirua City Council election.

Phill has lived in Porirua for the past 15 years and proudly credits the city and its people for shaping who he is today. A graduate of Tawa College, he has worked as a barber and hairdresser, trained in business and photography, and is now completing a law degree. With real-world experience, strong community ties, and a fresh perspective, Phill is standing to bring local knowledge, practical thinking, and common sense back into council decision-making.

“I’m standing because I care about Porirua and I’m not willing to sit back while my community is hit with a 17.5% rate hike. I want to see local businesses thrive and keep rates at a level that ensures long-term success for the city and its people.” – Phill Houlihan

Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects.

When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting:

• Fixing the basics
• Cutting the waste
• Ending race-based politics
• Restoring accountability

ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

“ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who’ve had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It’s time to take back control, restore accountability, and deliver real value for money...ACT Local is about doing the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and treating ratepayers with respect. Our candidates won’t divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They’re here to serve, not lecture."

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