Diane Calvert rules out Wellington mayoralty run

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

Wellington City councillor Diane Calvert is squashing rumours of her potential ticket to mayoralty by announcing her position to run for her local council ward.

It marks the third run of the Wharangi/Onslow-Western General Ward councillor, one day shy of the city’s council’s candidate nominations opening.

Calvert said had been asked by multiple people to run for mayor but decided against it as other candidates such as Andrew Little and Ray Chung were backed by significantly more funding.

“It’s all very well doing the job, but you have to get elected.”

There are three positions for councillors to run in the western ward, with current councillor Rebecca Matthews, who has announced she is running for councillor with the Green Party, and councillor Ray Chung, who is running for both councillor and mayor with IT (Independent Together).

The local body elections take place on October 11.