NPDC takes the guesswork out of voting for candidates in local election

Who are the candidates running in this year’s local election who if elected will set your rates and make the big calls on NPDC’s $263 million budget? And where do they stand on the hot topics facing our district?

We’re taking the guesswork out of voting by asking candidates for their views on a wide range of matters from separated cycleways to the local economy and their top priorities if elected.

“We know from previous elections that people are keen to understand what candidate’s stand for to help them vote, so we’ve made it easy for them to find out by asking candidates ten questions” says NPDC Manager Customer and Communications Ben Kohlis.

He says the questions asked are based on high profile topics that have been in the media, on social media and questions received through our Customer Service team over the past 12 months.   ​
We offered candidates the chance to have their say on the big issues and have posted their unedited responses in their own words.​ Some of the candidates have no responses because we were unable to contact them or they declined to respond. Some have chosen not to answer all the questions. ​

Candidate profiles and their answers to questions proved popular last election seeing more than 185,000 page views on the dedicated NPDC election website.  

“We received great feedback from locals in 2022 that it was really helpful and we had requests to repeat this again this year.”

Go to our Vote 2025 website Know Your Candidate section for the full candidate list, profiles, answers to questions.

What we asked the candidates:

• Would you change any NPDC services to reduce rates?
• With the transition from oil and gas in Taranaki, should NPDC be doing more to stimulate the local economy?
• Central government provides social services for us all, but is NPDC doing enough to address rough sleeping?
• Do you agree with the plan to deliver water and wastewater services through an NPDC Council-Controlled Organisation?  
• Does NPDC need to do more to support impacts of climate change?
• Should NPDC have funded $50m towards building the Tuparikino Active Community Hub?
• Should we build more separated cycleways across our district?
• How are you going to vote in the poll on a Māori Ward for our district? 
• How should NPDC attract more major events to our district?
• What are your two top priorities if elected?   

In this election voters will make a choice on:​

• New Plymouth District Mayor​.
• Six Councillors in Kaitake/Ngāmotu ward (for voters in on the role in New Plymouth city to Ōkato)​.
• One Councillor in North Ward (Waitara up to Waitomo District Council border)​​.
• One Councillor in the Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa (Māori ward)​​.
• One Councillor in the Kōhanga Moa Ward (Inglewood area) 
• Five district-wide Councillors. (These Councillors represent the whole district.)
• Four positions on the Inglewood and Waitara community boards. Note: the Puketapu Bell Block Community Board has been elected unopposed (four nominations for four seats), while the Clifton and Kaitake community boards will require a by-election (three nominations for four seats
• NPDC will run a poll to decide if they will keep or remove Māori wards in at least the next two elections.  Results are legally binding.

By the numbers:​

• 82 nominations received for the 2025 election​.
• 9 candidates are running for Mayor.​
• 77: the number of candidates in the 2022 local body election​.
• 45%: The voter turnout in 2022.
• 62,673: Number of people enrolled in New Plymouth district as of 31 July 2025.

Fast facts and timeline

• Voting papers delivered from 9 September. Your voting pack will include a booklet of candidate profiles.
• Voting closes midday Saturday 11 October.

• Progress results are expected in the afternoon of 11 October, 12 October for preliminary results and 17 October for the final results.