| Election Date: | 8 October 2022 |
| Election Name: | 2022 Whangārei mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2019 |
| Next Election: | 2025 Whangārei mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 2025 |
| Turnout: | 28,942 (43.26%) |
| Image1: | File:Vince Cocurullo 2020 (cropped).jpg |
| Candidate1: | Vince Cocurullo |
| Popular Vote1: | 8,157 |
| Before Election: | Sheryl Mai |
| Before Party: | Independent |
| After Election: | Vince Cocurullo |
| Mayor | |
| After Party: | Independent |
| Popular Vote2: | 5,814 |
| Colour1: | dcdcdc |
| Colour2: | dcdcdc |
| Party1: | None |
| Party2: | Independent |
| Image4: | No image.png |
| Candidate4: | Ken Couper |
| Candidate2: | Mike Budd |
| Party4: | None |
| Popular Vote4: | 5,037 |
| Candidate5: | Brad Flower |
| Colour5: | dcdcdc |
| Colour4: | dcdcdc |
| Party5: | Independent |
| Popular Vote5: | 4,675 |
| Previous Election: | 2019 Whangārei mayoral election |
| Percentage1: | 28.18% |
| Percentage2: | 20.08% |
| Percentage4: | 17.40% |
| Percentage5: | 16.15% |
The 2022 Whangārei mayoral election was held to elect the mayor of the Whangārei District, as part of the 2022 New Zealand local elections. The election took place from 16 September to 8 October and the winner will serve for the 2022–2025 term. Incumbent mayor Sheryl Mai did not seek re-election.
Third-term district councillor Vince Cocurullo was elected with 28.18% of the vote.
Whangārei District Council was formed as part of the 1989 local government reforms as a merger of Whangarei City Council, Whangarei County Council, and Hikurangi Town Council. Whangārei is the main city of the district and wider Northland region. The mayor is elected using a first-past-the-post voting system.[1]
Incumbent mayor Sheryl Mai did not stand for re-election to a fourth term.[2]
All mayoral candidates came out against the Sixth Labour Government's Three Waters reform programme and expressed that they wanted local assets kept in council control. The reform would see council owned assets to the tune of NZ$1.5 billion transferred to a centrally organised body.[3] [4]
The amount of debt the council was in was mentioned as a concern by Budd, Flower, and Green, whilst all candidates expressed concern with the level of rates. Green suggested they would put more financial experts on the financial committee and fewer councillors.
All candidates expressed a need to invest in the local economy, to attract more investors and employers to the district. Crime was brought up by Budd, Cocurullo, and Couper as a problem, particularly youth crime. Cocurullo and Couper wanted more funding to the CitySafe programme. Cocurullo said he wanted to invest in a national e-waste solution to be based in the district. Investment in road infrastructure was brought up by several candidates, especially in building up the links between Whangārei and Auckland.
Cost of living, inflation, and poverty were mentioned as concerning by Jacob. Shortland said he would represent a more diverse, younger demographic that isn't traditionally represented in local government.
Vince Cocurullo won the election with 28.18% of the vote. Following the election, Phil Halse (the region's longest serving councillor) was appointed as deputy mayor.[8]
| Candidate | Vote count | % of Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | Vince Cocurullo | 8,157 | 28.18% | |
| Independent | Mike Budd | 5,814 | 20.08% | |
| None | Ken Couper | 5,037 | 17.40% | |
| Independent | Brad Flower | 4,675 | 16.15% | |
| None | Shaquille Shortland | 2,180 | 7.53% | |
| Independent | Nick Jacob | 1,660 | 5.74% | |
| None | Fiona Green | 1,068 | 3.68% | |
Eligible: 66,894 | Turnout: 28,942 | Valid: 28,591 | Blanks: 308 | Informals: 43|}References] | ||||