2019 Tauranga mayoral election explained

Election Name:	2019 Tauranga mayoral election
Type:	Presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2016 Tauranga mayoral election
Previous Year:	2016
Next Election:	2024 Tauranga mayoral election
Next Year:	2024
Election Date:	12 October 2019
Turnout:	38,328 (40.41%)
Candidate1:	Tenby Powell
Party1:	Independent politician
Popular Vote1:	17,299
Percentage1:	58.24
Candidate2:	Greg Brownless
Party2:	Independent politician
Popular Vote2:	12,400
Percentage2:	41.75
Mayor
Before Election:	Greg Brownless
After Election:	Tenby Powell

The 2019 Tauranga mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections that were 12 October 2019 to elect the Mayor of Tauranga. It was won by Tenby Powell who defeated the incumbent mayor Greg Brownless.

Key dates

Key dates for the election were:^[1]

• 1 July: Electoral Commission enrolment campaign started.
• 19 July: Nominations opened for candidates. Rolls opened for inspection.
• 16 August: Nominations closed at 12 noon. Rolls closed.
• 21 August: Election date and candidates' names announced.
• 20 to 25 September: Voting documents delivered to households. Electors could post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted.
• 12 October: Polling day. Voting documents needed to be at council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results were available as soon as all ordinary votes are counted.
• 17 to 23 October: Official results, including all valid ordinary and special votes, declared.

Candidates

Declared candidates

• Greg Brownless, incumbent mayor^[2]
• Kelvin Clout, deputy mayor^[3]
• Murray Guy, former city councillor^[4]
• Andrew Hollis^[5]
• Jos Nagels^[5]
• Tenby Powell, businessman^[6]
• John Robson, city councillor^[5]
• Christopher Stokes^[5]
• RangiMarie TeAmopui-Kaa Kingi^[4]
• Les Wallen, pastor^[7]

Withdrawn candidates

• Danny Cancian, property developer^{[8] [9]}
• Dame Susan Devoy, former Race Relations Commissioner and squash champion^{[10] [11]}

Result

Tenby Powell won the election to become mayor of Tauranga,^[12] with 17,299 votes over Brownless' 12,400 in the final STV iteration.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Race for the mayoralty: What you need to know . Radio NZ. 4 March 2019 . 4 March 2019 .
2. Web site: Businessman Tenby Powell, Dame Susan Devoy contest Tauranga mayoralty . 11 May 2019.
3. Web site: Local Focus: Kelvin Clout to run for mayor, again . 15 April 2019.
4. Web site: Six join Tauranga Mayor in race for mayoralty . 11 May 2019.
5. Web site: Local body elections: 10-horse race for Tauranga mayoralty after late additions . 16 August 2019.
6. Web site: Tenby Powell to run for Tauranga mayoralty . 11 May 2019.
7. Web site: Tauranga mayoral candidates face off at public meeting before 400 people . 12 June 2019.
8. Web site: Former director of the failed Bella Vista subdivision announces mayoral bid . 2 May 2019.
9. Web site: Danny Cancian pulls out of mayoralty race . 15 August 2019.
10. Web site: Dame Susan Devoy to run for mayor of Tauranga . 11 May 2019.
11. Web site: Dame Susan Devoy withdraws from Tauranga mayoralty race . 9 June 2019.
12. News: Local body elections: Meet the Mayors around New Zealand. 2019-12-10. Newshub. 2019-10-23. en.
13. Web site: Tauranga City Council 2019 Triennial Elections . 2019.