ACT Local has today unveiled its full slate of candidates for the 2025 local body elections: 46 practical, community-minded New Zealanders standing across 25 councils. 

With 37 ward and constituency level candidates, it’s the largest local government campaign mounted by a political party in New Zealand, including Labour and the Greens who have stood council candidates for many years. ACT Local is standing a further 9 candidates for Auckland Local Board positions.

“These are New Zealanders who’ve had enough of being ignored by their councils,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“They’re stepping up to deliver real change and lower rates.

“ACT’s candidates come from all walks of life; we have business owners, tradies, healthcare workers, farmers, and many professionals. What unites them is a belief in sensible spending, equal rights, and a back-to-basics approach. They’re ready to bring real-world experience and common sense to the council table.

“Many have built successful careers, but more importantly, they’re local residents and ratepayers – people who’ve built homes, raised families, and dealt firsthand with council bureaucracy. They know what it’s like to stretch a budget and deal with the challenges people face locally.

“Now they’re stepping forward to bring practical solutions and a laser focus on core services like roads, water, and rubbish.

“In central government, ACT is cutting waste, defending equal rights, and taking pressure off households. Our councillors will do the same: vote against wasteful spending, stand up for democratic principles, and focus on essential services without driving up rates.

“Kiwis voted for real change in 2023, but our councils missed the memo.

“While ratepayers face eye-watering rate hikes, councils are blowing money on vanity projects, pushing ideological agendas like co-governance, and wasting time grandstanding about global politics – all while ignoring the basics.

“Every local election, voters get the little booklet with their ballot paper and tick whoever they think will do the best job. But too often, you don’t know what you are going to get. Candidates promise one thing and then do another. With ACT Local candidates, you’ll know exactly where they stand. 

“So if there’s an ACT Local candidate in your area and you want real change from your council, I hope you will give them your support.”

Candidate profiles can be found here.

A full list of our candidates is below:

Northland

Far North District Council

Davina Smolders – Bay of Islands–Whangaroa Ward

Whangārei District Council

Matthew Yovich – Bream Bay Ward

Kaipara District Council

Nima Maleiki – Kaiwaka–Mangawhai Ward

Roger Billington – Otamatea Ward

Auckland Council & Local Boards

Albany Ward and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (Hibiscus Coast Subdivision)

Samuel Mills

North Shore Ward and Devonport-Takapuna Local Board

Helena Roza

Franklin Ward and Franklin Local Board (Wairoa Subdivision)

Dene Green

Howick Ward and Howick Local Board (Botany Subdivision) 

Ali Dahche

Manukau Ward and Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board (Ōtara Subdivision)

Henrietta Devoe

Hibiscus and Bays Local Board (Hibiscus Coast Subdivision)

Yang Qu

Kaipātiki Local Board

Martin Lundqvist

Henderson-Massey Local Board

Ben Cox

Ōrākei Local Board

Martin Mahler

Amanda Lockyer

Robert Meredith

Howick Local Board (Pakuranga Subdivision)

Pat Arroyo

Howick Local Board (Howick Subdivision)

William Goldberg

Papakura Local Board

Prasad Gawande

Central & Lower North Island

Waikato District Council

Peter Mayall – Tamahere–Woodlands Ward

Hauraki District Council

Michelle Magnus – Paeroa Ward

Andrew Pickford – Plains Ward

Waipa District Council

Stuart Hylton – Cambridge Ward

Hamilton City Council

Nidhita Gosai – West Ward

Preet Dhaliwal – East Ward

New Plymouth District Council

Damon Fox – Kaitake–Ngāmotu Ward

Napier City Council

Iain Bradley – Ahuriri Ward

Manawatū District Council

Jerry Pickford – Feilding Ward

Aaron McLeod – Feilding Ward

Palmerston North City Council

Glen Williams – General Ward

Porirua City Council

Phill Houlihan – Pāuatahanui Ward

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Nigel Elder – Lower Hutt Constituency

Alice Claire Hurdle – Wellington Constituency 

Wellington City Council

Ray Bowden – Onslow–Western Ward 

Mark Flynn – Northern Ward 

Luke Kuggeleijn – Eastern Ward
 

South Island Candidates 

Tasman District Council

David Ross – Motueka Ward

Daniel Shirley – Richmond Ward

Marlborough District Council

Malcolm Taylor – Marlborough Sounds Ward

John Hyndman – Blenheim Ward

Hurunui District Council

Tom Spooner – South Ward

Waimakariri District Council

Nathan Atkins – Kaiapoi–Woodend Ward

Selwyn District Council

Chris Till – Rolleston Ward

Timaru District Council

John Bolt – Timaru Ward

Environment Canterbury Regional Council

Toni Severin – South Canterbury Constituency 

Otago Regional Council

Robbie Byars – Molyneux Constituency

Dunedin City Council

Anthony Kenny – Council At-large Ward

© Scoop Media