ACT Launches Largest Local Government Campaign in New Zealand

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