Andrew Little elected Wellington mayor with 85% of votes, pledging affordable housing and climate action.

Andrew Little has been elected mayor of Wellington, winning with 34,240 votes, or 85% of counted ballots, defeating Karl Tiefenbacher and Ray Chung. The former Labour leader and cabinet minister, who entered the race after initially ruling it out, emphasized grassroots engagement, including over 30,000 door knocks and extensive social media outreach. He pledged to prioritize affordable housing, public transport, climate action, and support for vulnerable communities, while promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance. Outgoing mayor Tory Whanau did not seek re-election, running instead for the Māori Ward where she lost to Labour’s Matthew Reweti. Labour and the Greens are projected to hold 10 of 16 council seats. The final results, including special votes, are expected October 17, with the new council sworn in October 30.