2022 Lower Hutt mayoral election

2022 Lower Hutt mayoral election
8 October 2022
Turnout31,113 (40.24%)
 
Candidate Campbell Barry Tony Stallinger
Party Labour United Hutt
Popular vote 16,163 13,720
Percentage 51.94 44.09
Mayor before election

Campbell Barry

 Elected mayor

Campbell Barry

The 2022 Lower Hutt mayoral election was part of the wider 2022 New Zealand local elections. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Lower Hutt plus other local government positions including twelve city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.

Background

The incumbent Mayor, Campbell Barry, stood for a second term. He was opposed by retailer Falgoon Patel and former Hutt City Council chief executive Tony Stallinger.[1] Stallinger was critical of the council finances promising to reduce spending and limit rate increases, contrasting to Barry who campaigned on investment into infrastructure for the city.[2] Stallinger set up United Hutt, a political grouping which claimed to oppose the presence of political parties in local government, which media commented as being a contradiction in terms.[3]

Fundraising

United Hutt and its candidates were criticised for using the organisation to obscure election funding transparency by not listing donations over $1500 and not recording all of their expenses.[4] A former mathematics teacher, Wayne Paaka, who was involved with the local Labour Party, complained to the council alleging United Hutt had breached the election rules around returns. The council returning officer, Bruce Hodgins, stated United Hutt's election return was not made in the spirit of the relevant legislation and also lacked transparency. Hodgins consequently referred Paaka's complaint to the police.[5]

Campbell Barry Election Funding[6]
Source Type Date Received Amount (NZD)
Amalgamated Workers Union NZ Union 07/08/2022 $2,000
E TU Incorporated Union 13/05/2022 $5,000
Rail & Maritime Transport Union Union 05/03/2022 $3,000
Simon Werry Political Family 13/9/22 to 4/10/22 $2,450
Dick Werry Political Family[7] 22/07/2022 $2,000
Hutt South LEC Political Party 08/09/2022 $5,000
Ginny Andersen Politician 05/08/2022 $1,800
Total: $21,250
Tony Stallinger Election Funding
Source Type Date Received Amount (NZD)
United Hutt Incorporated Political Party July to November 2022 $34,892.05
Total: $34,892.05

Mayoral results

2022 Lower Hutt mayoral election[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Campbell Barry 16,163 51.94 +2.66
United Hutt Tony Stallinger 13,720 44.09
Independent Fangoon Patel 1,200 3.85
Informal votes 30 0.09 −0.09
Majority 2,443 7.85 +0.14
Turnout 31,113 40.24 −2.76

Ward results

See also: 2022 Hutt City Council election

Twelve candidates were also elected from wards to the Hutt City Council.[8]

Party/ticket Councillors
Independent 9
United Hutt 2
Labour 1

References

  1. ^ Gourley, Erin (12 August 2022). "Wellington region, these are your mayoral candidates". Stuff. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  2. ^ Boyack, Nicholas (19 September 2022). "Ex-council CEO takes on mayor". Dominion Post. p. 9.
  3. ^ Gourley, Erin (20 September 2022). "Why some prospects; are aligned to parties". Dominion Post. p. 2.
  4. ^ Boyack, Nicholas (13 December 2022). "United Hutt funding remains unclear, even after disclosure deadline". Stuff. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  5. ^ Boyack, Nicholas (15 December 2022). "Police complaint laid over donations". Dominion Post. p. 6.
  6. ^ "Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses". Hutt City Council. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Werry family history, interview with Harcourt Chenoweth Werry". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
  8. ^ a b "2022 Election Results". Hutt City Council. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
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