No Wellington mayoralty bid for Graham Bloxham

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Graham Bloxham starting his now ended mayoral campaign.

Graham Bloxham ‒ the man at the helm of the Wellington Live social media sites ‒ has decided against running for Wellington’s mayoralty, citing concerns over “personal attacks” and “bullying abuse”.

Bloxham, 57, announced his candidacy in January. He was also running in the Motukairangi/Eastern ward for a council seat.

On Tuesday, he changed his mind on both fronts.

“I have looked back and tried to imagine what it might look like, and reflected on the impact on my family. Neither want to deal with the personal attacks on their father,” he said in a statement.

Graham Bloxham, on a mr_bloxham Facebook Threads video, where some details of his driving arrest were posted.

The statement referenced “bullying abuse” he claimed to have suffered, which he said was “actually quite disturbing and made me think”.

After “much research”, Bloxham said he felt he could do a much better job outside of council.

Bloxham’s campaign was beset by a series of controversies.

Most recently, mayor Tory Whanau said she was was considering legal action over “harmful, false” comments Bloxham made about her online.

Bloxham posted on his LinkedIn account, referencing rumours from 2023. He then also posted a story on the Wellington Live social media, which he remains the front person for, but claims to no longer own.

“I think it’s creepy and weird and certainly it is no behaviour for a mayoral candidate,” Whanau said.

On May 2, Bloxham was charged with failing to stop for police in central Wellington. He has pleaded not guilty and the trial is due to be heard on August 8.

In late May, Bloxham was warned over an online video promising car parks for votes. Chief returning officer Warwick Lampp said the statement amounted to bribery. Under the Local Electoral Act, those found guilty can be jailed for up to two years.

In April, Bloxham’s threat of “a good public shaming” for police staff who contradicted him was referred to police.

The drama unfolded in late March after Bloxham’s Wellington Live Facebook page had a post saying a “man with firearm has entered the shopping area of Stokes Valley, apparently entered the library with a firearm and is now walking around with it”.

The following day, an email from Bloxham’s address arrived in Police Minister Mark Mitchell’s inbox claiming the police media team “allow their page to bully and troll the company and me”. The message called for the “disgraceful, nasty” post to be deleted and that a public apology be issued. It was referred to police, Mitchell’s office confirmed.

Also in April, former Wellington mayor Justin Lester accused Bloxham of online bullying.

Lester approached Netsafe to get it to ask Bloxham to cease from allegedly “trolling”, defaming and making public comments about him. Lester said he would take legal action if he did not get an apology.

Bloxham was upset Lester had started a Facebook page called Wellington Alive, which he argued infringed on the Wellington Live brand.