2025 Elections: Your candidates in Selwyn
Wednesday, 27 August 2025
More than 100 candidates have put their hand up to represent the people of Greater Christchurch. The Press is here to help you get started on narrowing your picks. Scroll down to read answers from candidates in Selwyn.
Selwyn District Council
A total of 26 of the 32 people running in Selwyn responded to The Press’s survey. To read what candidates said in their own words, see the end of this article.
At least seven new faces will be at the helm of the fastest growing district in New Zealand after this election. Six of Selwyn’s 10 councillors decided not to stand again, and two incumbents are facing off for the top job with no safety net.
Incumbent mayor Sam Broughton is trying for a fourth term against first time Tawera Malvern Ward councillor Lydia Gliddon and newcomer Brad Mannering. None of the mayoral candidates have elected to stand in a ward.
This year a new ward has been introduced, Council At Large. This ward will have two at the council table representing the entire district.
Survey respondents were split in half over what they thought the biggest issue facing the district was; rate rises and financial management of the council, or growth and infrastructure pressures. Most chose the other as the district’s second biggest issue.
Trust and transparency was seen as third most important, with Brad Mannering and Kā Mānia Rolleston Ward hopeful Rhys Laraman choosing it as their top issue.
Almost half of respondents were in favour of rates capping (Selwyn already has a self-imposed rates cap of 16%), but only two suggested what that cap should be.
Four candidates opposed caps - including mayoral candidate Brad Mannering - but more than one third were either unsure or not clear.
Only three candidates said the district was growing at a sustainable rate. Two thirds of survey respondents, including mayoral candidate Lydia Gliddon and incumbent Kā Mānia Rolleston councillor Sophie McInnes, said the district was growing too fast.
All but two candidates opposed the idea of contributing to the operational costs of Christchurch’s new stadium. - Current mayor Sam Broughton was one who supports it. Almost a third were open to the idea of non-Christchurch residents paying a bit more on event tickets.
The average age of candidates is 49. The youngest person to put their hand up is 18-year-old Avi Aulakh standing in the Kā Mānia Rolleston Ward against 12 others for one of three seats at the council table.
Current deputy chairperson of the Malvern Community Board John Verry is the oldest candidate at 76, standing for the only seat in the Tawera Malvern Ward against his fellow community board member Sharn Nu’u.
Almost three quarters of candidates self-identified as male, and Pākehā, European or a New Zealander.
Sarah Barnsley (Pākehā, Ngāi Tahu) is the only person of Māori descent to stand this year.
Four people disclosed their political backgrounds, including Kā Mānia Rolleston Ward candidate Christoper Till who is running under the Act Party banner.
Kā Puna Springs ward candidate Zoran Rakovic said he began his campaign under the Act banner, but later decided to stand independently. Two others disclosed party memberships but were running unaffiliated.
Te Waihora Ellesmere incumbent Elizabeth Mundt did not disclose her connection to Voices for Freedom.