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Home / New Zealand

‘Pretty rapt’: Wairoa Mayor Craig Little ahead but waiting on final tally

Linda Hall
Linda Hall
LDR reporter - Hawke's Bay·Hawkes Bay Today·
11 Oct, 2025 11:34 PM3 mins to read

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This would be Mayor Craig Little's fifth term in charge if he wins.

This would be Mayor Craig Little's fifth term in charge if he wins.

Wairoa Mayor Craig Little is ahead on votes but isn’t yet ready to celebrate.

“We did end up having some people over to celebrate on Saturday evening because everyone was telling me that I had won, but there’s still the final votes to come,” Little said.

Today, he was sitting on 1563 votes, with closest rival Denise Eaglesome-Karekare 1226.

He said he was “pretty rapt” when he saw he was out in front.

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“This is my fifth term, and historically all around the country, when you have been in for a long time, people want change and it’s quite normal to be booted out.

“I feel pretty lucky to still be here. I have had a lot of good people supporting me in the community and now I have to make sure I do the hard yards to repay them.”

Asked why he thought voters continued to support him, Little replied, “well it’s not for my good looks”.

“We’ve had really tough times and I think people have seen that l stand up and I won’t be silenced. I’ll always fight for our community.

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“But honestly, I don’t want to go through another campaign ever again.”

He said his focus this term would be on river protection.

“Once the flood protection is in place, it will put positively back into the town and people and businesses can start getting on with it.

“Affordability is also another big issue. We need to talk about what the community wants and how we are going to get it.

“Three waters is another huge thing for this term.”

He said he was over the moon with the elected councillors.

“We had a lot of good people standing but unfortunately, there are only six jobs. If I get confirmation [for the mayoralty], I’ll be quite blessed to have this council. They’re just good, good people.”

Wairoa mayoral race

EAGLESOME-KAREKARE, Denise 1226

GASKIN, Camden 84

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LITTLE, Craig Independent 1563

PANERE, Kurawari 138

General ward councillor (three)

BIRD, Sara 676

FORREST, Amber 547

GASKIN, Camden 104

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HARKER, Jeremy 1199

HARRIS, Stuart 252

JACKMAN, Sam 501

MALIS, John 275

THOMAS, Roz 825

TUKAKI, Veronica Grace 394

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Māori ward councillor (three)

CAIRNS, Benita 689

COOK, Puti 184

HARKER-SMITH, Marino 120

KAWANA, Katarina 396

PANERE, Kurawari Independent 178

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TAHURI, Michelle 519

TIPU, Ally 148

WAIKAWA, Trevor Teotaia Hirini 777

WAINOHU, Esta Makere 376

  • All results are provisional
  • LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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