Andrew Little Running for Wellington Mayor

Andrew Little Enters Wellington Mayoral Race: Promises “Serious Leadership” for the Capital
By Wellington Live

In a bold move set to shake up the capital’s local elections, former Labour Party leader and senior minister Andrew Little has officially announced his candidacy for Wellington mayor.

Little joins a growing list of contenders, including incumbent mayor Tory Whanau, councillor Ray Chung, Rob Goulden, Kelvin Hastie, Karl Tiefenbacher, and Graham Bloxham, all vying for the city’s top job in the Wellington City Council elections later this year.

In a social media video released this week, Little declared that “Wellington needs serious leadership,” pointing to what he describes as growing challenges and a lack of effective direction from the current council.

“I’ve been approached by literally dozens of people in the past few weeks,” Little told TVNZ’s Breakfast. “I have the skills. The challenges are there. And it’s a challenge I would like to rise to.”

The former union leader and long-serving MP stepped back from national politics following Labour’s defeat in the 2023 general election. He previously served as Labour leader from 2014 to 2017, before stepping aside for Jacinda Ardern, and held several senior ministerial roles in the Labour government.

Now, with his eyes set on local governance, Little says he’s ready to tackle what he sees as a city in crisis.

“There’s a real sense of loss of confidence in the city,” he said, referencing ongoing public service cuts, population decline, and growing uncertainty about Wellington’s future.

“We need leadership that is not only respectful of that, but visionary – someone who can attract new businesses, new work, and new life to our city.”

Little also emphasized his strong relationships within central government, noting his experience navigating the political landscape and his ability to “build a constructive relationship” – or “stand up to government” when necessary.

With Wellington’s election season heating up, Andrew Little’s entry into the race marks a significant moment for the capital. Whether voters will embrace his call for serious change – or stick with the current leadership – will be one to watch closely in the months ahead.

👉 Stay tuned to Wellington Live for more updates, candidate profiles, and coverage of this year’s crucial local elections.