Nándor Tánczos narrowly defeated incumbent Victor Luca in Whakatāne’s mayoral race, backed by support for community projects over austerity.

In Whakatāne’s 2025 mayoral election, Nándor Tánczos won by 96 votes over incumbent Victor Luca, with special votes pending but expected to confirm the result. Tánczos, a former Green Party MP and longtime councillor, defeated Luca and challenger Philip Jacobs by advocating for continued investment in community projects like the boat harbour and Rex Morpeth Recreation Hub, arguing they provide value and enhance quality of life. Luca, who campaigned on rate control and project cuts, conceded, noting special votes would likely favor Tánczos. The outcome reflects a voter preference for maintaining public infrastructure over strict austerity, signaling a regional trend toward balanced spending and community development.