New Wellington mayor Andrew Little hits ground running

Thursday, 30 October 2025

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Incoming Wellington mayor Andrew Little, who will be sworn in today, will be running the ruler over spending in his first 100 days, is asking for a review of what is happening with the Golden Mile and has wasted no time surrounding himself with trusted Labour hands.

In his first sit-down interview since being elected, Little told The Post he aimed to identify cost savings by the end of his first 100 days and is setting up a financial review group to run a ruler over council project spending.

Within six months, he wanted to have clear guidance on what was happening with the Golden Mile and had already asked council staff for advice on it.

And he’s already delivered on a new committee structure and an 18-month expiry on the chairperson roles as well as appointing Labour councillor Ben McNulty as his deputy mayor.

The reality of councils is the first 100 days is largely swallowed up by the summer break but Little was willing to make commitments.

“There's too many cost risks and too many other risks,” he said.

Little also said that he was planning to ensure that the council has a clear understanding of the new water utility - and was making sure Wellington has input into the new entity.

“One of the bigger issues that never really got a great deal of coverage in the campaign, was Metro Water, which is now only months away,” he said.

Little addressed a widely held belief that he had been talked into running instead of actually wanting the job.

“I was motivated by what I saw and observed and thought that, with my background, the skills that I’ve got, I had the skills that would make a difference at a time when the city needed it.”

But it was a call from the conservative side of the fence that sealed the deal.

“He explained to me what he saw was wrong … he explained to me what he thought I would have to offer. I'd already had various people … out of the National Party and others saying, ‘we think, you know, you could do it’.

“That's what made me kind of sit up and think, actually, if there's a constituency out there that is that broad, then maybe I do have what is needed.”

As well as announcing that McNulty would be as his deputy for the first 18 months of the three-year term, he’s made some other key appointments.

David Hawkins, a senior private secretary during Little’s time in Parliament who’s described as a smart and politically savvy operator, has been named as his chief of staff.

Phil Reed, who was also involved with Labour during the ascendency of Jacinda Ardern to prime minister, was previously confirmed as Little’s principal communications adviser. Reed did the same job four terms ago for mayor Celia Wade-Brown.

But he has also given plumb positions to those outside the Labour camp with councillor Diane Calvert securing the crucial chairperson role of the purse-string committee, planing and finance.

“My job as mayor is to make sure everybody is feels involved and included, which is what I've been working very hard to do over the last three weeks.”

Little defended appointing mayoral rival Ray Chung to the head of the subcommittee in charge of council-controlled organisations.

“Ray's got this very personable sort of personality when he's dealing with you. I take that at face value,” Little said.

He’s also aiming to forge a close working relationship with the council chief executive Matt Prosser and the other senior leaders at the council.

And Little’s keeping his hand in with government ministers .

“It's going to be very important for Wellington City that we do forge a relationship with the ministers who can do things that are relevant to Wellington, and that's what I'm in the process of doing.”

Little and the councillors for the new triennium will be sworn in later today at Pipitea Marae.