Who’s running (and who’s stumbling behind them) in the Auckland Mayoral Race

NEWS | TANGATA WHENUA / LOCAL

Written by Sara McKoy (she/her) | @saramckoy | Contributing Reporter

The time has come once again to turn your attention to the most riveting triennial event in Tāmaki Makaurau: local elections! Maybe you’re a first-time voter, or maybe you’re seasoned in Auckland’s very own political game show - “Who on earth wants to be mayor?” You’ve probably started seeing election signs clogging up every roadside they strategically and legally can be pitched.

But if you want to use your vote for real and have no idea who to vote for, or what any of these candidates actually stand for; you’re in the right place. 

This year, we have twelve candidates for the coveted mayoral seat. While not all of them have launched campaigns - or even left so much as a digital footprint for Aucklanders to browse through - I’ve taken some time, scoured the internet and compiled for you the rundown on all of Auckland’s 2025 mayoral competitors. 

WAYNE BROWN

Wayne Brown is the incumbent Auckland mayor, running once again under the ‘Fix It’ banner. With three years of Auckland’s mayoralty now under his belt, Brown has a decided advantage in this year’s race. 

In his Manifesto for Auckland, Brown has listed three key areas of focus for the upcoming term: 1. Technology and innovation, 2. Housing and infrastructure, and 3. Immigration and tourism. 

It’s evident that Brown is chasing growth. He wants Auckland to become the ‘tech city’ of New Zealand, he’s already underway with plans of housing intensification in the CBD, and he wants the city to make the most of increased tourism. 

Studying for a job in the tech industry? Hope more housing will mean less homelessness in the city centre? Been happy with local governance over the past three years? Fix-it felix is the man for you. 

KERRIN LEONI

Kerrin Leoni is the most prominent challenger to Brown’s mayoral position, championing her campaign for the first wahine Māori to ever be elected as an Auckland Councillor to become the first Māori mayor of Tāmaki Makaurau. 

Leoni platforms herself as “the new energy Auckland needs”. Demographically, she stands out as a mayoral candidate, residing in the minority of councillors who aren’t male and/or Pākehā and/or boomers. Leoni has said that this means she represents the city’s future, and that she’ll be a “visionary leader” who will take Auckland forward.

Her main focus is pushing ahead with big infrastructure projects, in particular expanding the trainlines to places like Huapai and the airport, and bridging the gap between Avondale and Southdown. Her various policies, found on her website, include improvements on housing, transport, sustainability, growth, and better leadership. 

If you’re looking for the candidate you’ll actually see in the community, Kerrin Leoni says she’ll be the mayor for you.

TED JOHNSTON 

Last time he placed sixth in the mayoral race as the New Conservative candidate, this time Ted Johnston is Independent as he seeks your vote once more.

Johnston’s campaign is a response to “decades of silly policies” caused by “incompetent mayors”. He sets himself apart through his experience as a lawyer - and promises to solve Auckland’s transport congestion problem and inadequate public transport system. Naturally, his solution is to work with the government to shut down council controlled organisations (CCO’s) like Auckland Transport etc which hold and control much of Auckland’s assets but act like little kingdoms, and are not accountable to the ratepayer and citizens of Auckland. These were set up due to a failed belief that we people of Auckland couldn’t look after it ourselves.” Whether or not Ted Johnston is aware that Auckland Transport is, in fact, run by Aucklanders is still to be confirmed.

Want to “live your best life”? If so, Ted reckons he’s your guy. 

DR ERIC CHUAH

Chuah asserts himself as a pragmatist with a straightforward action plan and a strategic vision for a better council. He has been a member of the National Party since 2024, and in the 1999 general elections, he was a party strategist for United NZ’s Peter Dunne. 

He wants to see the standard improvements of council services - better delivery, minimised rates, reduction of unnecessary spending, and safer communities. His specific policy announcements so far include his proposal for solving the ‘dog-lovers vs mums/dads with kids’ contention, his assertion that helipads should not be banned, and his promise to investigate the excessive use of roadcones for traffic management.

Do you want to be able to walk, drive, or helicopter around Auckland without all the pesky obstacles? Dr Eric Chuah (on instagram @ecbl777) may just be the candidate for you.

JOHN ALCOCK

John Alcock isn’t your typical mayoral candidate. He claims he will be the ‘leader of the (bitcoin) revolution’. 

Alcock wants to “reclaim New Zealand from ideological extremism” by replacing governmental control with individual freedom. He describes himself as “equal parts legal eagle, crypto crusader, and conference kingpin”, and has legal, financial and governmental experience to boot. He boasts tenure on the ACT Party board, management of five businesses and a “polymathic” capacity to be a “whirlwind of productivity” in any professional role. In April 2024, Rock the Vote NZ proudly announced Alcock as their unanimously elected leader - but any evidence of his involvement with the party seems to have been scrubbed from his record. 

Alcock certainly has an extensive digital footprint to explore. In lieu of any specific policy announcements, his most recent media appearance is a podcast episode on bitcoin as the only non-violent response to “world war three”. 

Think we need a local governance crypto revolution? Then as Alcock himself says, “[he’s] already halfway through the plan, two steps ahead, and politely wondering why you're still stuck on step one.” 

RYAN PAUSINA

If you think that Auckland's local governance is lacking ‘great minds’ like that of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, look no further than mayoral candidate Ryan Pausina.

The 2025 local elections will be Pausina’s second shot at the mayoralty, after throwing his hat into the ring in 2022. This time, he is much better prepared. 

Diving into his laundry list of policy plans - currently twenty six items long - Pausina has proposals on retaining biodiversity, the empowerment of dairies, an underwater bridge crossing, and lots more! He is confident that his expertise in macro and mechanical engineering is exactly what this city needs.

Are you an “intellectual voter”? Ryan Pausina says he is the candidate for you.

PETER WAKEMAN

Peter Wakeman is yearning for his place in council – and it doesn’t seem to matter how.

Where he lacks experience in actual council seats, he makes up for in his relentless campaign endeavours; from the 2017 Mount Albert by-election, the Banks Peninsula electorate in 2020, the 2022 Christchurch mayoralty, the Hamilton West 2022 by-election standing with the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, the Pukehīnau/Lambton General Ward in 2024, and of course, his latest venture for Auckland’s top job as mayor of Tāmaki Makaurau in 2025. 

Throughout this time, Wakeman’s political proposals have included addressing climate change, exposing biased, inaccurate and unbalanced political media coverage, and reorganising the financial system to better support people with the cost-of-living.

Maybe it’s time he finally had his day in office! 

ROB MCNEIL 

It wouldn’t be an Auckland mayoral race without at least one animal justice advocate in the running — and for 2025, that person is Rob McNeil.

McNeil is the executive president of the Animal Justice Party Aotearoa New Zealand. His winning attributes are “empathy and organisational skills”, and he wants to see environmentalism and social justice become the central concerns of local government. 

If the number of roaming dogs in Auckland suburbs has been at the forefront of your mind this year, or if you think it’s time that Auckland’s mayor gave animals their ‘desperately needed voice in politics’, vote Rob McNeil!

MICHAEL COOTE 

Michael Coote has little to share about his political ambitions, but his financial expertise seems boundless.

He has over thirty years of experience in financial services, has many endorsements on his LinkedIn profile, and is currently a client manager with the Trustees Corporate Supervision. 

That’s all there is to report on this candidate — if you’re after a no-bullshit, strictly finance mayor, maybe Coote is your guy?

GHOST MAYOR(S)

Your final three official candidates for Auckland’s mayoralty are Jason Pieterse, Simon Stam and Denise Widdison. For people seeking to represent New Zealand’s largest city, you’d think I might find more leads than a potential investment business registration, and an unclaimed participation in Round the Bays 2014. Maybe these candidates will jump out with some epic last-minute campaigns. Until then… 

There you have it: your full list of Auckland mayoral candidates for the 2025 local elections! Whoever piques your interest, make sure your details are accurate and you’re ready to vote by September 5th. The official voting date will be Saturday October 11th, with official results published by October 17th.