Pacific candidates surge in 2025 Auckland local elections

Pacific voices are rising across Tāmaki Makaurau, with more than 60 candidates of Pacific descent confirmed to be standing in the 2025 Auckland local elections.

From the mayoralty to councillor positions, local boards and licensing trusts, the nominations reflect a growing appetite for Pacific leadership, particularly in communities where people say their voices have long been underrepresented.

The surge marks a potential turning point for representation in the country’s most diverse city.

From long-serving incumbents to first-time independents, the significant increase in Pacific candidates signals growing momentum for meaningful participation and influence in local decision-making across Auckland.

Auckland Council released the official list of candidates on Monday, 4 August at 3pm.

While the council does not collect or publish ethnicity data, a Local Democracy Reporting analysis shows a significant increase in Pacific candidates standing across nearly every tier of local government.

As of the 2022 election, only three of Auckland’s 20 councillors were of Pacific descent: Alf Filipaina, Lotu Fuli and Josephine Bartley.

This highlights a long-standing gap in representation at the governing body level, despite the city’s diversity.

This year, South Auckland’s Manukau Ward has become one of the most hotly contested, with a crowd of nine candidates competing for just two councillor seats.

Seven of the confirmed candidates are Pacific, including Labour incumbents Filipaina and Fuli, alongside Luke Mealamu, Henrietta Devoe, Carol Ah‑Voa, Vicky Hau and Malcolm Turner.

Their nominations reflect strong momentum from the Pacific community.

Ted Johnston, an independent of Sāmoan descent, is the only Pacific candidate standing for mayor.

His bid marks a rare Pacific presence in the mayoral race, a position no Pasifika leader has held.

The late Fa’anānā Efeso Collins was the most recent Pacific contender, finishing second in 2022 and leaving a lasting legacy of civic engagement.

Eleven Pacific candidates are standing for councillor roles across Auckland.

Auckland Council elections will shape the city’s future leadership. Photo/file.

All three current Pacific councillors are seeking re-election, including Bartley, who faces a challenge in the Maungakiekie‑Tāmaki Ward from Fa’afuhia Michael Fia.

Fia is also contesting a local board seat.

Strong Pacific presence in local boards

More than 40 Pacific candidates are standing for local board positions across Auckland, with confirmed candidates in Ōtara, Māngere, Manurewa, Kaipātiki, Henderson, and beyond.

In Ōtara-Papatoetoe, several Pacific incumbents are seeking re-election, including Apulu Reece Autagavaia, Vi Hausia and Fuli, who is also running again for councillor.

Their continued presence provides stability in one of the country’s most Pacific-populated areas.

Community voices are represented through local board governance. Photo/file.

In Māngere‑Ōtāhuhu, most sitting members are also seeking re-election.

However, current board chair Tauanu’u Nick Bakulich is stepping down and will not contest this election.

Manurewa’s list reflects further change, with the departure of Fale Andrew Lesa, the only Sāmoan member of the board.

His name does not appear on the 2025 nominations list.

Low Pacific numbers on Auckland Council

Despite strong Pacific participation at local board level, the governing body remains under-represented.

Just three of the 20 councillors are Pacific and the 2025 election may shift that balance, or risk further marginalisation.

This comes against the backdrop of historically low voter turnout across Auckland.

In the 2022 local elections, just 35.4 per cent of registered Aucklanders voted.

In Pacific-majority areas such as Ōtara-Papatoetoe and Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, turnout ranged from 26 to 32 per cent, well below the city average.

A 2023 by-election in Ōtara drew just 22 per cent of eligible voters.

While Pacific people are proportionally represented among candidates, their voting participation remains significantly lower, a gap that could limit the impact of the 2025 surge unless turnout improves.

Tāmaki Makaurau is home to the country’s most diverse communities. Photo/file.

Grassroots and youth leadership driving change

New Pacific voices are joining the 2025 local elections, reflecting a shift toward youth leadership and grassroots participation.

Zak Tulua, a 22-year-old youth leader from Ōtara-Papatoetoe, is among the youngest confirmed candidates.

He is standing for the Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board and has spoken publicly about representing young people and bringing fresh ideas to local government.

In Manurewa, Johnnie Timu is standing as an independent for the local board.

He co-founded Brown Pride, a social enterprise gym and community hub launched in 2017 by six young men from South Auckland.

Elections help decide how Auckland’s communities are supported. Photo/file.

What began as a CrossFit-style fitness space has grown into a holistic youth-led initiative focused on wellbeing, cultural identity and leadership development.

Other Pacific candidates with community ties include Italia Tipelu-Marsters, Repeka George-Koteka, and Kaumosi Opie, who are confirmed nominees for local board positions in Manurewa, Henderson-Massey and Devonport-Takapuna.

While it is unclear whether they are first-time candidates, their presence adds to the growing field of Pacific representation across Auckland.

Diverse affiliations

Pacific candidates are standing across a wide range of affiliations, including Labour, Fix Auckland, ACT Local, Communities and Residents (C&R), WestWards, Team Franklin, Papakura Action Team, Shore Action and several independents.

Labour continues to field the highest number of Pacific candidates, particularly in South Auckland strongholds such as Māngere‑Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa and Ōtara‑Papatoetoe.

Voting packs will be delivered by post in September. Photo/file.

Notable candidates include Apulu, a Labour-aligned incumbent running in both Ōtara and the Wiri Licensing Trust, and Fasitua Amosa, standing for the Whau Local Board.

Licensing trust participation

Pacific candidates are also contesting licensing trust elections.

These local bodies oversee alcohol sales and channel profits back into communities.

Candidates include Peseta Norma McDonald, Nerissa Henry, Marcus Sealiitu Amosa, Simon Matāfai, John Loau, Sione ʻUlufonua, Li'amanaia Lorenzo Kaisara and Apulu.

They are standing in Mt Wellington, Portage, Wiri and Waitākere trusts.

In regions such as South Auckland, licensing trusts play an important role in returning funding to Pacific communities through grants and local initiatives.

Gaps in the field

Despite the significant increase in nominations, Pacific representation remains absent in some areas.

Ōrākei and Rodney wards remain uncontested and have no Pacific candidates.

Both are among Auckland’s wealthiest wards and have long lacked ethnic diversity in local government.

What happens next

Postal voting opens in September and closes on election day, 12 October.

Votes must be posted before 12 October to be counted. Photo/file.

All enrolled voters will receive postal packs.

With more Pacific candidates than ever before, the 2025 local elections could become a defining moment for Pasifika visibility, leadership and democratic participation in Auckland, but the power of that representation depends not just on who is standing, but who turns out to vote.

Editor’s note: Candidate ethnicities were identified using publicly available information, self-disclosed backgrounds, and community knowledge. This story focuses on confirmed Pacific candidates as part of a Local Democracy Reporting analysis and is not an official list endorsed by Auckland Council.

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