Nominations for the Great Barrier Local Board and the Waitematā and Gulf Ward officially closed at midday Friday, August 1, with a full field confirmed for both contests.
A total of eight names are in the mix for the Aotea/Great Barrier Local Board, which sees the return of several familiar faces — and the absence of at least one.
Izzy Fordham, the current board chair, is seeking re-election. Known for her vocal advocacy on a wide range of island issues, Fordham has long been a prominent force in local decision-making. Joining her on the ticket are fellow incumbents Chris Ollivier, who’s been at the forefront of community efforts to manage the spread of exotic caulerpa, and Neil Sanderson, part of the long-standing Sanderson family.
Also standing is Nikki Watts, well known across the island as a furniture maker, master beekeeper, and iconic chef at the Claris Sports & Social Club, while local artist Fenella Christian — widely respected for her creative and cultural contributions — also enters the contest.
Also nominated is Ryan Daly, head brewer at Aotea Brewing, and a relatively new face to electoral politics. Gregory John Heap and Ben Assado round out the list.
One notable omission this year is Patrick O’Shea. A well-known flaxroots advocate, O’Shea previously played a key role in mobilising younger voters and advancing youth-driven engagement with island politics. His absence will be felt by those who saw him as a direct conduit between Aotea’s younger generation and the boardroom table.
Waitematā and Gulf Ward — which includes Aotea, Waiheke, the central city and inner isthmus suburbs — will also be contested.
Incumbent councillor Mike Lee, standing with Auckland Independents, is seeking re-election. Lee is known for his long-running opposition to helicopter pad proliferation and has a track record of pushing conservationist policies for the Hauraki Gulf. He’ll be up against City Vision candidate Patrick Reynolds, along with Selena Yanpei-Lu Renner, Genevieve Sage, Ian Loan, and Lester Bryant.
Across Auckland, a total of 476 nominations were received — 11 more than in the previous election cycle.
All candidates will be invited to submit a short written statement to AoteaGBI.news to help voters understand their priorities, positions, and background ahead of voting.
Voting papers will begin arriving in letterboxes from Tuesday 9 September, with the full list of candidates and profiles expected to go live from Monday 1 September on the revamped Vote Auckland website. The site will also feature a postcode-based tool to help voters find who’s standing in their area.
Voting closes Monday 22 September.
