Mayoral candidates

Question: Who am I?

Alex Baker: Kia ora. Ko Alex Baker tōku ingoa. I'm standing for Mayor and for councillor in Motukairangi/Eastern Ward.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Alex Baker: I have leadership, financial management, housing, city infrastructure and climate change management experience, which I built up from my years in working in audit at KPMG, corporate finance at KPMG, strategy and investment in Kāinga Ora and also as Director of Sustainability at Kāinga Ora. These are the key issues that are facing our city and I believe that we should be electing someone who has experience dealing with those.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Alex Baker: I've met with hundreds of people over the course of my campaign to talk to them about what they see as the issues and what their values are. And there are three clear things that have been coming through. One is that people are really happy, actually, with the progress that the city's been making on sustainability projects. Two is that people can't find jobs here and that's why they're moving away. And three is that people are worried that the city is becoming increasingly unaffordable. And that is why my actions as Mayor and as councillor are focused on those three issues, affordability, jobs and sustainability.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Alex Baker: A challenge for Wellington is population growth. Since 2017, our population hasn't grown at all. Hamilton in that time grew by 15%. What this means is that Wellington households are now paying 15 hundred dollars a year more in rates than they could have been if we'd been growing at a reasonable rate. Growth is also a huge opportunity for our city because to grow, that means that we have to get our settings right to attract businesses and people back into our city. That means more affordable housing, better quality housing, a better place to do business and continuing to invest in those sustainability projects.

Question: Who am I?

Diane Calvert: Kia ora, I'm Diane Calvert, standing for Mayor of Wellington and also for re-election for Wharangi/ Onslow-Western Ward.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Diane Calvert: I bring nine years of council experience, knowledge of the machinery of local government and strong working relationships, and a plan grounded in how Wellington works and how it can work better. With strong public backing, I can lead the reset Wellington needs.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Diane Calvert: Look, as an active community advocate, I take the time to listen. I ask the tough questions and I base my decisions on what's best for Wellington and what you tell me, not politics, not ideology.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Diane Calvert: Look, Wellington's facing a cost crisis. Affordability of rates is our biggest challenge, but it's also our opportunity to get council working smarter and deliver real value to residents and businesses. My reset plan is a simple, focused approach – to fix what's broken, protect what matters and enable city growth in an affordable way.

Question: Who am I?

Ray Chung: Hi, thanks for looking at my profile. I'm Ray Chung and I'm a third generation Wellingtonian. I've been the councillor in the Onslow-Western Ward since 2022. I'm running for Mayor and again for councillor in the Onslow-Western Ward. I grew up in the CBD and had all my school in Wellington. I became a telecom engineer and from there I went to Massey University for a marketing degree. So then on to an international marketing career, working for multinational companies all around the world selling telecom systems to major companies.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Ray Chung: I understand budgets and the need to operate within your means. I spent the last two decades in international business, where I've worked with very, very talented teams across the world. And you don't last long with those jobs if you're spending more than you're earning. As a councillor, I've opposed the unnecessary and wasteful spending. As Mayor, I will put an end to rate payers being used as cash cows on fanciful projects.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Ray Chung: Anyone who's ever met me know that I'm a people person. In fact, I'd much rather be engaging with people personally than doing these types of videos. Over the last three years, I've met thousands of people at my monthly constituent meetings. I've met them at the community sessions, ethnic groups, and on buses, and on the streets. I will continue to do this and will reinstate town hall type meetings where I can engage with the public and residents and talk to them about what issues affect them. More and more people are now taking more interest in public affairs.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Ray Chung: The key challenge we have in the city is affordability. It's getting too expensive to live in Wellington. The bureaucracy is expanded and even the Government says that council rates are contributing to the cost-of-living crisis. I'm standing beside my goal to have zero rate increase policy. Rate payers cannot be squeezed any longer. We can make the city attractive by engaging with businesses again, by reducing the demands that council places on rate payers. We can do this.

Question: Who am I?

Rob Goulden: My name is Rob Goulden, I'm a candidate for the mayoralty of Wellington in 2025. I'm also standing for the Motukairangi/Eastern Ward.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Rob Goulden: I've previously served as a councillor for 12 years between 1998 and 2010. I've come from long service careers of well over 40 years. I bring a Master's degree in Business Administration to the job and I served on one of the most successful councils Wellington's had, right up to 2010.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Rob Goulden: I've always been strong on consultation. I think we need the reinstitution of ward meetings and a much better consultation process for people to have their say on the running of the city and what they want to see for the future of their city. So I'm going to do a lot more work in that area and actually listen to people. This current council doesn't, and that's very evident from the satisfaction survey.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Rob Goulden: Biggest challenge for the city is the city's financials. The Council's 1.6 billion in debt, net, at the present time. It's going to go a lot higher. We're paying about 1.2 million dollars a week in interest only and if we’re not careful the debt will go well over 2 billion, and that is unsustainable, unaffordable and that's the biggest issue for the city going forward. We have to get rid of that debt over the next 10 or 20 years.

Question: Who am I?

Josh Harford: Kia ora, my name is Josh Harford and I'm standing for Mayor with the Silly Hat Party.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Josh Harford: I represent a nationwide movement of highly serious, highly serious Silly Hat Party supporters. I bring the strength, I bring the vision and I bring the commitment to make this a highly serious city with great weather. I'm not one of the clowns, who in the Council currently, has got us into this position. I represent a new future, I represent a highly serious future. And I think that's what qualifies me to be your Mayor.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Josh Harford: In the Silly Hat Party we have no ideology. We do whatever you want, whenever you want it. So if you're a member of the community and you want something to happen, it'll happen. Because we will do whatever you want, whenever you want it. That's what we do in the Silly Hat Party.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Josh Harford: The biggest challenge Wellington faces is our terrible weather. The weather here gets in the way of the things that matter. The wind and the rain get in the way of studying, they get in the way of work and they get in the way of play. As Mayor I will fix the weather. An opportunity for Wellington is to be a vibrant city with better weather. Once we have better weather, you can float happily down our Courtenay Place lazy river. Students will be able to study outside, and we will be able to legally enforce no hat, no play.

Question: Who am I?

Andrew Little: Kia ora, I'm Andrew Little. I'm standing to be Mayor of Wellington. I've lived in Wellington for 35 years, most of my working life, and my wife and I have raised our family here. We live in Island Bay. It's the city I've come to love and now call home.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Andrew Little: I'm standing for council because Wellington needs serious leadership and real change. It's time to bring an end to the chaos - the backstabbing that we see on council. What I bring is a set of skills from being a lawyer, a union leader, an MP and a senior cabinet minister. My skills are in bringing people together and dealing with hard and challenging questions. I'm used to running large complex organisations. Right now, Wellington needs the kind of leadership that's going to bring people together and make a real difference for the city.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Andrew Little: A lot of people tell me that they hear from the Council to talk to them about issues, but they don't feel as if they're being heard. My commitment is to record what we hear from the community as part of council decision making and for the Council itself to be accountable for what they hear from people when the Council is asking their opinions and their views on issues. I'll make it part of the way I expect Council to operate and part of the way I will be accountable to the people of Wellington.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Andrew Little: One of the big challenges we have in Wellington is affordability. We need to get council spending well under control to keep rates down. We need more affordable housing and a council that's going to work with developers and others to make sure that we produce that. And we need public transport that is reliable and keeps control on the costs to people. The opportunity we have is we have a city brimming with people with amazing skills and talents. Everything we have, we need, is here and what we need is a council to back people to make a real difference and that's what I will bring as the Mayor of Wellington.

Question: Who am I?

Donald McDonald: Hello about Donald McDonald tōku ingoa. Donald McDonald or Mac done waiting. Please vote Donald, Mayor Wellington and Southern Ward general. The bible says end times is here. Go to heaven if I do, god commands. Jesus coming soon. You might get his reward. And I've got an update. The last great disaster, earthquake. Like everyone, can't do better. Stick with me one short page.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Donald McDonald: My strengths - I am zero honest like everyone. The next council will equal me. I am expert, compare large numbers. Aotearoa. Math describe details. Let's face it, society government is all about greedy me. Houses and cars, you gamble and alcohol, the time waster. Noisy means trouble hearing.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Donald McDonald: My communities – I stand for log-job. Fix answer. Do the right. Honest, timely, succinct. Proper sign off. But nothing, they don't do it. No fix. Donald, eight times while council, never clear answer. Refuse. Donald straight talk. Don't assume. They didn't do it. They didn't do it. Don't assume.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Donald McDonald: Challenge is population. Petrol cars and electric. All end. The roads will be wipe out pedestrians. Phone allowance. For age 16 years. Reasonable talk text data. Participate. The calendar I'm afraid is stupid. So easy for our child. Donald, five weeks times six days. Easier. Thirty days sync. Appointment easier. Enough to live on. Samaritan and community centres. Carry on. 845 900. Go Donald. McDone. The last great disaster. Can't do better.

Question: Who am I?

Pennywize the Rewilding Clown: Mauri ora tātou. Ko Pennywize te Hangareka Whakatipu Ngahere ahau - I am Pennywize the Rewilding Clown, and, e tū ana au, hei kaitono mō te tūranga koromatua o Pōneke. I am standing for the position of Wellington Mayor. Kia ora koutou.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Pennywize the Rewilding Clown: Ae. Kia ora mō tēnā- He aha ōku pūkenga. Well, I have many strengths. One of them is a first-hand knowledge of some of the āhuatanga, the appearance and condition of some of the pipes in central Pōneke. One of those is the Waitangi awa, which has got some beautiful kōkopu and kōura living in it at the moment, but in sad disrepair. So one of my key strengths is that knowledge. Kia ora.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Pennywize the Rewilding Clown: Ae. He me nui ki te whakarongo ki nga whakaaro o te hapori. It's very important to listen to community views, and Pennywize is determined to listen steadfastly to the thoughts and feelings of Wellingtonians. He might not necessarily do what they want, but ae ko te whakarongo te mahi nui o tēnei hangareka. Very focused on listening. Kia ora.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Pennywize the Rewilding Clown: Ae. E tū ana te aituā o te ao e mahana haere ana. Ae, the climate crisis is going to be one of the biggest crises we face as a city, and rewilding Pōneke is a brilliant way to tackle that crisis head on. Both adapting to vast amounts of water, but also tackling our nature crisis and bringing back the manu, bringing back the ngārara, the lizards, bringing back all sorts of delicious, beautiful creatures in Pōneke.

Question: Who am I?

Joan Shi: Hi, I'm Joan Shi, a single mom of two lovely children who call Wellington home. Because Wellington is my children's hometown, I have a deep personal commitment to make this city better. And also we enjoy 13 lovely years living in this city. That's why I'm standing for the Northern Ward and the Mayoralty.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Joan Shi: The skills I can bring to this role includes truly listening, financial management, and also I have experience in working in international trade, NGOs and technology. I have a warm personality and easy to approach. In recent years, I have worked in Wellington as an IT developer, I also earned a degree in data science from Victoria University of Wellington.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Joan Shi: I have three ways to stay connected with my community. Number one, run regular clinics. Number two, frequent communication with the community leaders. Number three, attend the local events so I can engage directly with residents.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Joan Shi: One challenge facing Wellington City is that, at this moment, both the Central Government and the Local Government have limited funding in core infrastructure and social state housing. And simply relying on rate increases is not the correct answer. On the other hand, we also have opportunity, which is if we are open to change, we are willing to listen to people, different ideas and trade international investment and make good use of global talents, then we have a good chance to have a better Wellington.

Question: Who am I?

Karl Tiefenbacher: I'm Karl Tiefenbacher, I'm a born and bred Wellingtonian. I'm running as an independent for both the Mayoralty and also in the Eastern Ward.

Question: What skills or strengths would you bring to the Council?

Karl Tiefenbacher: So I had a financial markets career for 18 years before I started Kaffee Eis 21 years ago. As a business we're an importer, we're a manufacturer, we're a wholesaler, we're a distributor, and I really understand how the city runs. So what I offer for this role is I offer financial and business acumen, common sense, determination and just the ability to, basically, make things happen.

Question: How would you consider your communities' views when making a decision?

Karl Tiefenbacher: I think one of the real issues that we have as a city is that our council tend to consult but they don't actually tend to listen. So we need to basically realise that the citizens of Wellington actually understand what we need as a city more than what the council itself does. So consultation needs to be clear, it needs to be precise, it needs to give the exact information that we need to know the answer to, and then we actually need to listen to how people consult.

Question: What is one key challenge and one opportunity for the city?

Karl Tiefenbacher: I think there's a lot of issues going on in our city at the moment. I think breaking down to one is pretty difficult, but I would say that probably for me the most important one would be affordability. It's becoming harder and harder to be able to afford to live in Wellington and it's also becoming harder and harder to afford to do business in Wellington. So I think we need to address that before anything else happens. We need to enhance employment growth, if it only comes by actually becoming a more affordable city. So a solution for that is really just to dial down on everything the council spends, how we spend it, what we're spending it on and then make sure we're getting true value for money. So I think if we can get value for money, then we can fix that affordability factor.