Pasifika leaders and newcomers compete in Auckland elections

Aucklanders have made their choices, with preliminary results showing that Wayne Brown has been re-elected as mayor for a second term.

This election also marks a continued increase in Pacific representation on the city council.

Preliminary results will be announced on Monday, with the final count, including special votes, confirmed on Friday.

Brown received 146,642 votes, well ahead of his challengers Kerrin Leoni (56,612) and Ted Johnston (21,661). Johnston, the only Pasifika candidate in the mayoral race, placed third overall.

Re-elected Pasifika councillor incumbents

In the Manukau Ward, incumbents Alf Filipaina and Lotu Fuli comfortably retained their council seats, continuing to represent one of the most diverse parts of the city.

Filipaina received 10,826 votes, while Fuli garnered 9611 votes, far ahead of the next contender, Carol Ah-Voa (4513). Josephine Bartley was also re-elected in Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, and Victoria Short won a seat in the Albany Ward, which was one of the more closely contested races this year.

Labour sweep in Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and Ōtara-Papatoetoe

Pasifika representation remains strong in South Auckland’s Labour strongholds. All positions on the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board were won by Labour candidates: Harry Fatu Toleafoa, Joe Glassie-Rasmussen, Christine O’Brien, Talei Solomon-Mua, Makalita Kolo, Kaea Inoke-Togiamua, and Fe’etau Peo. Their victory continues a long-standing pattern of Pacific leadership in the area.

In Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Labour won again in the Ōtara subdivision, with Apulu Reece Autagavaia topping the poll with 2454 votes, followed by Li’amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara (2146) and Topou Folau (1793). Apulu, first elected in 2013, is one of Auckland’s longest-serving Pasifika local board members and plays a pivotal role in local decision-making.

A view of Auckland City, where Pasifika representation continues to grow across councils, boards and community trusts. Photo/Auckland Council

Pasifika gains across Auckland

In Manurewa, Italia Tipelu-Marsters (Manurewa Action Team) won a seat with 5386 votes, restoring Pasifika representation after one term without it. In Papakura, Felicity Auva’a (Papakura Action Team) retained her position on the local board with 4255 votes. Further west, Pacific actor and creative Fasitua Amosa was re-elected, and newcomer Fania Kapao joined the Whau Local Board, strengthening the growing Pacific presence in West Auckland.

Janet Tupou was re-elected to the Kaipātiki Local Board, while Jacqui Tay became a new member of the Albert-Eden Local Board’s Ōwairaka Subdivision with 4219 votes.

Lesieli Oliver joined the Franklin Local Board after earning 3231 votes, marking a milestone for Pasifika representation in Auckland’s rural south, where Pacific communities are smaller but steadily growing. Her election extends Pacific influence into areas beyond the urban centres traditionally associated with Pasifika leadership.

In Maungakiekie-Tāmaki, Nerissa Henry, Maria Meredith, and Dianna Fuka were elected to the Tāmaki Subdivision, further strengthening Pasifika representation in the east. Meredith and Henry both return for another term, with Henry also re-elected to the Mount Wellington Licensing Trust.

In West Auckland, Pacific actor and writer Oscar Kightley was re-elected to the Henderson-Massey Local Board with 6693 votes, continuing his commitment to the community and support for Pacific storytelling.

Marcus Sealiitu Amosa was re-elected to the Portage Licensing Trust, further extending Pacific leadership across the city’s civic trusts.

Some Pasifika leaders miss out

While many Pasifika representatives were re-elected or newly elected, a few community figures were not successful. Vi Hausia, who served as deputy chair of the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board, was not re-elected. In West Auckland, Valeria Gascoigne missed out on returning to the Whau Local Board, ending her term after one cycle.

Their absence reflects the fiercely contested nature of the western wards this year, where multiple Pasifika and independent candidates competed for limited seats, likely dividing support.

Re-elected South Auckland councillors

Representation from South Auckland on the council remains largely stable. Incumbent councillors Daniel Newman (Manurewa-Papakura Ward) and Andy Baker (Franklin Ward) were both re-elected, while newcomer Matt Winiata joins them as the new councillor for the Papakura-Manurewa Ward, replacing Angela Dalton, who did not seek re-election.

A growing Pacific footprint and the challenges ahead

The election reflects a steady increase in Pacific representation across Auckland's local boards and governing bodies.

Veteran councillors like Filipaina, Bartley, and Fuli, alongside newcomers such as Oliver, Tipelu-Marsters, and Tay, are indicators of this progress.

While the outcomes of the 2025 local elections highlight advancements in Pasifika leadership, they also reveal that more efforts are needed to improve voter turnout, support emerging candidates, and ensure Pacific voices remain influential throughout the city.

Final results will be confirmed once special votes are counted early next week, but the preliminary findings suggest that Pasifika voices are continuing to shape local democracy in Auckland.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.