Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale had the second biggest spend of any of the candidates in the July election. Photo / Alex Cairns
Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale had the second biggest spend of any of the candidates in the July election. Photo / Alex Cairns
Tauranga’ mayor Mahé Drysdale had the second most expensive campaign of the July election and the two biggest donations – one from his mum and another from a property developer.
He spent $41,409 on his campaign and his uncle, Doug Owens, spent the most - at$56,012 - for his unsuccessful bid at the mayoralty.
Candidates in the July election are legally required to declare their election expenses and any donations over $1500 they received.
The maximum a candidate could spend for the Tauranga election was $60,000 based on the city’s population.
Drysdale received $31,500 in donations toward his campaign, the most any 2024 candidate declared.
The mayor received two $10,000 donations, the largest single donations of the election. One was from his mum Robin Owens and the other was from property developer Peter Cooney, director of Classic Group. Classic Builders is one of New Zealand’s largest home builders.
Cooney said he was impressed by Drysdale’s values and financial acumen given he was a financial adviser.
“One of the key things for me has always been, someone needs to understand finance and they need to understand the ins and outs of running a business.”
Being a two-time Olympic champion and a five-time world champion rower meant Drysdale had the focus and ability to get the job done as mayor, Cooney said.
“He had all the skills that were needed and that’s been lacking in the past.”
Doug Owens ran for mayor in the Tauranga City Council election in 2024. Photo / Alex Cairns
Owens’ spend was the biggest spend of any candidate in the last six council elections in Tauranga, according to the Tauranga City Council electoral expenses returns made so far.
Owens said he ran a purely digital campaign and was happy with the election result.
“We have an energetic, competent new council and a mayor with experience in the insolvency sector and who can follow the money.”
Unsuccessful Arataki ward and mayoral candidate Anthony Goddard had the third largest spend at $34,132 for his “Make Tauranga Great Again” campaign.
He spent $7891 on merchandise, $2952 of this on hats. Goddard gave his merchandise of T-shirts, jumpers and hats to anyone who wanted it.
“When the opportunity is there you may as well use it,” he said of his election spend.
Goddard said he could have spent more on advertising, but it was noticeable early on that Drysdale would likely win, so he cut back.
Mayoral and Arataki ward candidate Anthony Goddard spent $34,000 on his campaign. Photo / Supplied
Around 80% of people Goddard spoke to were supportive of his campaign slogan and some people took it as a racial slur, he said.
The Bay of Plenty Steamers’ unofficial mascot Hori BOP had no election expenses for his mayoral attempt. Peter Stanley, Phillip Coleman and Michael Rayner also had no election expenses to declare.
Councillor Steve Morris spent $16,747, the second highest spend of the successful councillor candidates.
Tauranga’s first Māori ward councillor, Mikaere Sydney, had the smallest spend of the elected members at $2254. He has been unable to take up his duties because of illness and has a leave of absence until the end of the year.
Deputy mayor – and the sole woman elected – Jen Scoular’s expenses were $11,435, councillor Marten Rozeboom spent $12,087 and Rick Curach spent $7802.
Councillor Kevin Schuler spent $4781, Glen Crowther $3232 and Rod Taylor $4753.
Welcome Bay councillor Hautapu Baker spent $5634 on his campaign and was the only other councillor to declare donations, with $2496 donated to him.
