Final results in the Whakatāne District Council local election have been declared, confirming three-term councillor and former Green MP Nándor Tánczos as Mayor.
The final results include special votes and while candidate voting totals have changed there are no changes in elected positions from preliminary results announced on Sunday, 12 October 2025.
The new Mayor, Councillors and Community Board representatives have been elected.
A binding poll on Māori wards was held alongside the election.
- Keep: 7,484
- Remove: 4,877
The result confirms that Māori wards will remain in place for the 2028 and 2031 local elections.
The final results are as follows:
Candidates are listed in order of votes received.
Whakatāne District Mayor
- Nándor Tánczos
Whakatāne District Councillors
Whakatāne-Ōhope General Ward (4 vacancies)
- Carolyn Hamill
- Lesley Immink
- Julie Jukes
- Malcolm Whitaker
Te Urewera General Ward (1 vacancy)
- Andrew Iles (elected unopposed)
Rangitāiki General Ward (2 vacancies)
- Gavin Dennis (elected unopposed)
- Wilson James (elected unopposed)
Rangitāiki Māori Ward (1 vacancy)
- Tu O'Brien
Kāpū-te-rangi Māori Ward (1 vacancy)
- Toni Boynton
Toi ki Uta Māori Ward (1 vacancy)
- Jesse Morgan-Ranui
Community Boards
Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board (6 vacancies)
- Sue Whale
- Christopher Howard
- Linda Bonne
- Douglas McLean
- Rosemary Sloman
- Sasha Cessford
Tāneatua Community Board (6 vacancies)
As the number of candidates does not exceed the number of vacancies, the following candidates have been duly declared elected members of the Tāneatua Community Board:
- Vinoop Xaviour
- Talei Bryant
- Shane Page
A by-election for the remaining three vacancies will be held on 3 March 2026.
Rangitāiki Community Board (6 vacancies)
- Storm Hale
- Bill Clark
- Stu McHardy
- Stephanie Bonner
- Bruce Evans
- Heemi Brown
Murupara Community Board
Murupara Subdivision (3 vacancies)
The following candidates have been duly declared elected members of the Murupara Community Board (Murupara Subdivision):
- Weku Kereopa
- Irma Prentice
- Karito Paul
Galatea-Waiōhau Subdivision (2 vacancies)
- Alison Silcock (elected unopposed)
As Jesse Wayne Morgan-Ranui has been confirmed successful in the Toi ki Uta Māori Ward, a by-election for the Galatea-Waiōhau Subdivision will be held on 3 March 2026.
Te Urewera Subdivision (1 vacancy)
- Mere Kuia Honeycombe
What happens next:
The Mayor and Councillors will be sworn in at the Inaugural Council Meeting at the start of November.
Community Board elected members will also be invited to attend but will go through the formal process at their respective Community Board meetings.
Following their inauguration, the Mayor and Councillors will take up their official duties.