Preliminary results for Waikato Regional Council elections 2025 are out with only special votes remaining to be counted (updated: 13 Oct). The biggest surprise in the results are the defeat of the Chair Pamela Storey and Deputy Chair, Bruce Clarkson.
Bruce Clarkson’s failure to secure his seat on the regional council was hard to digest for many considering his successful track record of work in the area of environment.
The four successful candidates for the Hamilton constituency, based on preliminary results, are Angela Strange (15,301 votes), Chris Hughes (13,666 votes), Ben Dunbar-Smith (13,327) and Jennifer Nickel (11,486 votes).
All three – Angela Strange, Chris Hughes and Jennifer Nickel have been re-elected from Hamilton constituency where they contested last election also. Ben Dunbar-Smith won last time from Waihou but chose to stand instead from Hamilton this election.
There were a total of ten candidates standing for Waikato Regional Council. The unsuccessful candidates are: Bruce Clarkson (10,378), Robin Ratcliffe (9868), Bala Tikkisetty (7108), Henry Penny (6095), Pam Chiles (4541) and Phillip Westwood (2406).
Other preliminary results of WRC are:
- Ngā Hau e Whā – Tipa Mahuta, elected unopposed
- Ngā Tai Ki Uta – Kataraine Hodge, elected unopposed
- Taupo- Rotorua – Mishéal Downard
- Thames-Coromandel – Warren Maher
- Waihou – Robert Cookson & Keith Holmes
- Waikato – Gary McGuire & Noel Smith
- Waipa – King Country – Garry Reymer & Liz Stolwyk
Special votes collected by the 11 constituent territorial authorities in the Waikato Regional Council area are yet to be included in these results. Official results are expected to be received between 16 and 19 October.
