“My campaign team and I have run a clean and positive campaign, which was incredibly important to us.
“I also want to thank my wife Carolyn and my wonderful children for the love and support they have given me over the last three years and throughout this campaign. I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Tripe also thanked those who had put their hand up for election.
“In particular, Peter Oskam and Josh Chandulal-Mackay for their mayoral run.”
Chandulal-Mackay said he had been realistic about the challenges associated with challenging a first-term incumbent mayor.
“I’m really happy with the campaign I ran, and, honestly, the nerves throughout the morning have been excruciating,” he said.
“I’m relieved to have heard a result. I’m very content.”
He said he had called Tripe to congratulate him and wanted “to thank everyone for participating in the process”.
“Some big challenges are coming up over the next three years and I will work positively and constructively with Andrew and the other successfully elected councillors.”
In the general ward, Mike Hos has been elected to the council for the first time.
Returning councillors are Chandulal-Mackay (7159 votes), Oskam (4985), Kate Joblin (7194), Michael Law (7479), Glenda Brown (5969), Charlotte Melser (6366), Ross Fallen (4934), Rob Vinsen (6869) and Philippa Baker-Hogan (5732).
Four-term councillors Jenny Duncan, Charlie Anderson and Helen Craig did not seek re-election.
Julie Herewini (906) and Geoff Hipango (738) won Whanganui’s two Māori ward seats, with Phil “Bear” Reweti (307), Kiritahi Firmin (502) and Hayden Potaka (447) missing out.
It is the first time the Māori ward has been in place in Whanganui.
Hipango said the community was invested “in wanting to see the best in Whanganui”.
“I’m proud to sit alongside fellow elected councillors, with a focus on progressing the issues that currently face our city,” he said.
“This is new ground, for want of a word, and I’m elated to see Whanganui embracing the retention of Māori wards.
“It is going to be a bit of a learning process around all the due diligence required at such a governance-type level, but I’m very happy.”
Herewini said she was feeling humbled, grateful for the support, and “a little bit scared”.
“But I’m ready for the challenge,” she said.
“I acknowledge everyone who stood in the Māori ward.
“Huge fingers crossed that we retain the ward into the future, especially seeing that the Rangitīkei and Manawatū districts have lost their referendum.”
For the Whanganui Rural Community Board, David Wells and Daryn Te Uamairangi have been elected in the Whanganui Community subdivision, beating Kiritahi Firmin and Jenny Tamakehu.
Jack Bullock, Brian Doughty and Quentin Handley were elected unopposed in the Kai Iwi subdivision, with Charlie Anderson and Bill Ashworth elected unopposed in the Kaitoke subdivision.
Māori ward referendum
Progress results indicate Whanganui will retain the Māori Ward for the 2028 and 2031 local elections, with 6663 voters in favour and 6213 against.
The Government-mandated referendum ran concurrently with this year’s election.
In October 2023, Whanganui councillors voted 8-5 to establish the ward, reaffirming the decision by 11-2 in September last year.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.
