The Daily Examiner.
Does Wellington want more Tory is the question as Wellington mayor Tory Whanau announced she would be the Green’s mayoral candidate in the October elections.
Reporting the decision, The NZ Herald says that by running as a Green candidate on the party’s ticket, Whanau will have access to the Green’s resources, including campaign volunteers, and is asking for donations through the party.
Her campaign material will also feature Green Party branding.
The Herald quotes Whanau as saying: “I am the right person to keep delivering for our city. We’ve worked hard to deliver for Wellington, and I’m proud of the progress we’ve achieved in the last two years in water infrastructure, housing, and climate resilience.”
Other Green candidates for the Wellington City Council include Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon running again for Paekawakawa Southern General Ward, Geordie Rogers, who won a February 2024 byelection for the Pukehīnau Lambton General Ward, and newcomer Jonny Osborne, running for Motukairangi Eastern General Ward.
Wellington needs to work together to build a low carbon city where people can afford to live in a thriving city centre. I’m proud to be running with the Green Party again in this year’s local elections to make that happen –
The Post reports that Whanau and Foon earned Green Party backing despite breaking ranks over the sale of airport shares.
Whanau confirmed the airport share sale issue was brought up in the nomination and she gave a commitment to the party not to sell the shares if it came up again.
Other asset sales, such as council land, were still possible, she said.
For the Regional Council, Green councillor Yadana Saw is running again, with Green newcomer Henry Peach. Thomas Nash is not running again.
And the pain continues for Wellingtonians as former Labour Party leader and Minister Andrew Little late Tuesday afternoon announced he is actively considering running for Wellington Mayor.
Little – who is currently a consultant for a law firm in Wellington – has confirmed to RNZ he is considering taking a tilt at the October election, saying he would have more to say soon.
