What Wellington City Council Mayoral and Eastern Ward/Motukairangi Candidates are saying about business support
A reminder that voting in the 2025 Wellington local elections is still open until midday Saturday, 11 October.
We reached out to all mayoral and Eastern Ward/Motukairangi candidates and asked: What will be your top priority in supporting local businesses?
Here’s a summary of their responses so you can make an informed choice before casting your vote.
Key:
M = Mayoral candidate
EW = Eastern Ward/Motukairangi candidate
Ken Ah Kuoi (EW) promotes zero rates increases for the next three years by cutting costs on unnecessary projects and focussing on core infrastructure only, auditing council departments for efficiency and value, supporting initiatives for safer streets.
Alex Baker (M+EW) wants to focus on business and job growth, while improving infrastructure and affordability.
Scott Caldwell (M) emphasises helping local businesses thrive, reducing the cost of being a ratepayer by getting the NZ Government to also pay local rates , and investing in infrastructure.
Diane Calvert (M) is proposing to protect core services, reduce costs and the commercial rates differential, and support business investment.
Chris Calvi-Freeman (EW) wants to pause all major new council-funded projects, including the Golden Mile, to allow a proper analysis of costs, benefits and affordability, lobby central government to progress a second Mt Victoria tunnel for vehicles, bikes and pedestrians, and convert Bay Rd into a one-way southbound lane only to allow for the addition of more angle parking.
Ray Chung (M) has pledged a zero rates increase, focus on core services only, and to make Council decisions more responsive and affordable, particularly for ratepayers including businesses.
Trish Given (EW) supports thriving town centres, reviewing business rates, and investing in town centre safety initiatives.
Rob Goulden (M+EW) wants to mandate rate increases aligned with CPI, aims to build on Wellington’s strengths—arts, film, tourism, education—and attract investment with a collaborative approach between public and private sectors.
Josh Harford (M) focuses on “weather fixes” rather than business policy, so there’s no clear plan for supporting businesses in his statement.
Kelvin Hastie (M) supports local businesses and youth jobs to grow the economy, emphasises listening, collaboration, and “sustainable growth”, drawing on infrastructure/tech experience and creative-sector background to build a smarter, resilient city that’s easier to operate in and attract people to.
Luke Kuggeleijn (EW) opposes cycle lanes and supports reinstating parking spaces to improve customer access to businesses, cutting wasteful spending by Council and reducing the commercial rates differential.
Andrew Little (M) pledges faster consents and less red tape to help businesses grow, better transport connections to improve access for customers and staff, and stronger support for events and festivals across the whole city, not just the CBD.
Donald McDonald (M) clear priorities around business haven’t been strongly communicated.
Michelle McGuire (EW) wants to keep rates affordable, focus on core council infrastructure and facilities to get "back to basics", and prioritise safer streets to support thriving retail, hospitality and community confidence.
Thomas Morgan (EW) supports fostering collaboration and networking, promoting local procurement by supporting local contractors, wants to champion sustainable and innovative initiatives within the community.
Sam O’Brien (EW) supports the revitalisation of suburban centres in partnership with businesses, will look at options for a suburban rates differential as part of the Council rating review, wants to improve accessibility to suburban businesses areas in particular for the elderly and those with disabilities.
Jonny Osborne (EW) wants to extend council support for rough sleepers in the suburbs, supports Investing in critical water and transport infrastructure to support business and growth, wants to review the commercial rates multiplier and shift to a land-based rates system to encourage more development.
Pennywize (M) suggests bringing back Moa for public transport, allowing sand dunes to build up on Lyall Parade to prevent sea rise, and replacing public toilets with composting toilets. focuses on improving infrastructure (especially in the city centre), green/nature-oriented developments, and public transport.
Joan Shi (M) intends to make Wellington more business-friendly by reducing commercial rates, attract more international students and tourism, keeping essential costs down, and focusing on infrastructure & amenities.
Karl Tiefenbacher (M+EW) supports business growth, emphasises Council financial responsibility, transparency, and restoring confidence in Council for business operations, will review cycle and bus lanes to see if they are fit for purpose, peak-hour only, or removed.
