Andrew Little for Wellington mayor?
Tuesday, 8 April 2025
Former Labour Party leader Andrew Little is considering running to be mayor of Wellington.
The surprise move came after the party was forced to re-open nominations after it couldn’t attract a single member to be its candidate to challenge incumbent Tory Whanau.
It was widely assumed that the ex-defence minister, who quit central government politics at the 2023 election, was shoulder-tapped last year but had rejected the idea.
However, a source close to Little, who famously handed over the leadership reins to Jacinda Ardern in 2017, confirmed he was giving candidacy serious consideration.
“Andrew Little had left politics behind and started a new career in the law,” a source close to the former trade union boss said.
“He hadn't considered running for council or running for mayor, but has been approached by a wide range of people from all walks of life in Wellington.
“He can see the council and the city are in a really bad state and sees the urgent need for change and serious leadership.”
Other sources told The Post Little was “80%” committed and “it’s Andrew but he is yet to fully commit.”
The race to lead the city is hotting up ahead of October’s election.
Earlier this week Whanau and her deputy Laurie Foon confirmed they have earned Green Party backing despite breaking ranks over the sale of airport shares.
Already confirmed in the race are business owner Karl Tiefenbacher, conservationist Kelvin Hastie, city councillor Ray Chung, former councillor Rob Goulden and Wellington Live owner Graham Bloxham.
Radio host Nick Mills is also considering a run, The Post recently revealed.
Labour will be banking on Little, already a household name, winning a plurality of votes in the single transferable vote election.
But his experience will likely attract a decent number of second preferences votes from both the left and right.
Little, who lives in Island Bay, came to prominence as national secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union for more than a decade, and then Labour Party president.
He entered Parliament at the 2011 election. Within three years, he had stood for leadership, joining a revolving door that had seen Phil Goff, David Shearer, and David Cunliffe hold the job since Helen Clark left power.
He is widely credited with rebuilding the demoralised party’s machinery, paving the way for the election of Ardern.
In six years of government, he held more than a dozen ministerial portfolios, including justice, health, the intelligence agencies, workplace relations and safety, immigration and public service, as was known as a “safe pair of hands”.
He was also tasked with overseeing the Pike River re-entry and responding to the Royal Commission’s report on the Christchurch mosques attack.
On leaving politics, following Labour’s election defeat, he said his one regret was not completing the overhaul of New Zealand’s national security system, including the creation of a new national security agency promised after the 2019 terror attack.
Little couldn’t be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Paul Tolich from the Wellington Labour Local Body Committee would not comment.