Tory Whanau drops out of Wellington’s mayoral race

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

Tory Whanau has announced she is not running for re-election as mayor.

Tory Whanau will not run for re-election as mayor of Wellington.

She said Andrew Little entering the race had “changed the game”.

Little said he would advise council officers against signing further Golden Mile contracts this close to an election.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has announced she is not running for re-election.

Tory Whanau says the city is moving into the future as work starts on the Golden Mile.

She said Andrew Little entering the race had “changed the game”.

“I have a lot of respect for Andrew and his leadership skills. He has support from many corners and the skills and experience to unite our council. The progressive goals I have fought for are at risk this election and I do not want a Green versus Labour narrative to distract from what’s important for our city,” she said.

“When I had put my name forward to run for mayor again, I was worried there were no viable candidates for mayor. Now that has changed, I can now focus on what is important to me.“

Little - who won the backing of the Labour Party on Monday night - told Stuff he was surprised when Whanau let him know of her plans last week.

“Even though there had been some commentary at the end of the last year that she might not stand again, she had committed to standing,” he said. “But nevertheless, look, she's made her decision. I respect that, and acknowledge that.”

Little noted that Tory had a challenging time as mayor, but achieved many of the things she set out to - citing zone changes to allow high density housing in particular.

Now, the mood of the city has changed in an increasingly fragile business environment, he added.

“The city has to look to the future, and that's why I put my hat in the ring.”

Whanau will instead run for council in the Māori Ward, a seat currently held by Nīkau Wi Neera.

Tory Whanau said former Andrew Little entering the race “changed the game”.

“I am incredibly excited about running for the Māori Ward at a time when Te Tiriti is under attack from central Government,” she said.

Wi Neera announced on Monday afternoon that he is not seeking re-election, but will travel overseas to study a master’s degree in archaeology.

Whanau’s announcement came just hours after a blessing and sod turning ceremony that marked the start of work on the Golden Mile. She said this was a key milestone of her mayoralty, and she is happy to stand aside knowing what she has achieved.

But only the contract for work at the Cambridge Terrace intersection had been signed. Negotiations were still underway for the contract covering the remainder of Courtenay Place works.

Little said he would advise council officers against signing that contract as - if elected - he would want to hold off until confidence was restored in the city.

“Given that there is a still-contested mayoral race, they would be very unwise to enter new contracts, making new commitments, to bind a new council after October this year,” he said.

Asked to clarify if this includes the contract currently under negotiation for Courtenay Place work, he said it does.

“Given how close we are to an election that is likely to change the line-up of council, I think [officers] need to respect that a new council may take a different view and should not enter into any significant or material obligations.”

However, Little had told RNZ on Tuesday morning that “right now, in the CBD business conditions are pretty fragile and the Golden Mile may well be a good idea and it may well come to fruition”.

The election is set down for October 11, with candidate nominations closing on August 1.