3 July, 2025

Rival tickets of candidates line up for local body elections

A Fresh Approach and Communities & Residents North Shore groupings both intend to field full tickets of six candidates for election to the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board.
The two blocks hold all board seats this term, with a 3-2 split in favour of A Fresh Approach after it chose not to replace former leader Toni van Tonder when she resigned in February to move overseas.
A previous ticket, Heart of the Shore – whose three board members were not re-elected in 2022 – is not in the running, but former member and Devonport Heritage co-chair Trish Deans is standing as an independent.
Candidate registration opens today, 4 July, and closes on 1 August, with local body election voting by postal ballot from 9 September to 11 October.
Interest in places on the board is ramping up, with several would-be members attending recent meetings or commenting on public forums.
Positions on Auckland Council are also at stake, with two seats on the North Shore ward to be chosen by voters in the Devonport-Takapuna and Kaipatiki local board areas.
Sitting councillor Richard Hills is standing again, but Chris Darby, a councillor since 2013, told the Flagstaff he was yet to decide if he would seek another term.
If Stanley Point resident Darby does not stand, the peninsula area may not have the option of voting for a candidate to offer a direct local voice on the council.
Declared council ward candidates include the Kaipatiki Local Board chair, John Gillon, and that board’s deputy, Danielle Grant, who lives in Milford, both as independents.
C&R’s candidates for the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board include current board members George Wood and Gavin Busch, along with Mike Single, who was the highest polling unsuccessful candidate in 2022, and Kaumosi Opie, Phillip McGivern and Neil Zent.
A Fresh Approach says it plans to launch its list within the next few weeks.
The Flagstaff will run profiles of candidates nearer to voting time and will be covering an election meeting being held at the Devonport Community House on 3 September at 7.15pm.