Local elections 2025: Western Bay mayor James Denyer re-elected

Western Bay of Plenty District Mayor James Denyer found out he was re-elected while out on the Waihī Beach Coastguard’s new boat. Photo / Supplied

Western Bay Mayor James Denyer has been re-elected to serve his second term.

Voting closed at midday and 85% of votes have been counted.

Progress results show Denyer received 3699 votes ahead of Margaret Murray-Benge with 2256 votes and Rodney Joyce who received 1585 votes, a council statement said.

Darlene Dinsdale will be the district’s first Maōri ward councillor, progress results show.

Allan Sole and Rodney Joyce have been re-elected as Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward councillors.

Newcomer Graeme Elvin will join current councillors Margaret Murray-Benge and Tracey Coxhead in the Kaimai ward.

In the Maketu-Te Puke ward, Grant Dally and Laura Rae have been re-elected.

Western Bay of Plenty Mayor James Denyer. Photo / Rosalie Liddle Crawford

First-time councillor Shane Beech will take the third Maketu-Te Puke seat; he had to pull out of the 2022 election last minute for health reasons.

Denyer, 49 said he was “extremely happy and relieved” to be re-elected.

He found out whilst on the maiden voyage of the Waihī Beach Coastguard’s new boat after it was blessed earlier today.

“We were going full ball in the harbour when the call came through, which I could barely hear.”

Also on board were Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward councillor Allan Sole, who was also re-elected and Coromandel MP Scott Simpson.

Denyer lives in Katikati with his partner and young son.

He previously said his three priorities for the next term were transport, housing and the cost of living.

Better transport connections and more housing could be supported if a regional deal was signed, Denyer said.

The sub-region, including Tauranga, was one of three areas to sign a memorandum of understanding for a regional deal with the Government in July.

“Spending smartly and prudent financial management” would help with the cost of living, he said.

Progress results don’t include the special votes or any voting papers received on Saturday morning, which means the initial results could change.

The preliminary results will be announced Sunday evening. This tally includes all ordinary voting papers but not special votes.

Final results for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council are due to be announced between October 14 and 17.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council final results would be announced between October 16 and 19.

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Community Board results

Former councillor Anne Henry has been elected to the Katikati Community Board alongside John Clements, James Sayer and Norm Mayo.

The Maketu community board members are Aleisha Waterhouse, Cecil Thomas, Sue Elliott and Ieni Walters.

Wayne Stevenson, Gail Kelly, Heather Guptill and Ross Goudie are the Waihī Beach Community Board members.

Under the new representation arrangements, two community boards now have subdivisions.

The new members of the Kaimai Community Ōmokoroa Board are Chris Dever and Murray Marshall.

The Kaimai West members of the Kaimai Ōmokoroa Board Community are Tina Akuhata and Tania Tuhakaraina.

Kaimai East members of the Kaimai Ōmokoroa Community are Bevan Rakoia and Keith Wisnesky.

Te Puke members of the Te Puke–East Community Board Subdivision are Dale Snell, Karen Summerhays and Marara Williams.

The east member are Sally Benning and Manvir Singh Mann who were elected unopposed because two people stood for the two vacant seats.

Tauranga City Council is not having an election, with the council elected last year serving a special four-year term. Tauranga voters could still vote in the regional council election.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.