Waikato District Council
Waikato District Council Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato | |
|---|---|
 Brand logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Established | 1 November 1989; 36 years ago |
| Preceded by |
|
New session started | 19 October 2025 |
| Leadership | |
Mayor | Eugene Patterson, Ind. since 30 October 2025 |
Craig Hobbs since 3 February 2025 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 14 (including mayor) |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
| First-past-the-post | |
First election | 14 October 1989 |
Last election | 11 October 2025 |
Next election | 14 October 2028 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| 15 Galileo Street, Ngāruawāhia | |
| Website | |
| waikatodistrict | |
Waikato District Council (abbr. WDC; Māori: Te Kaunihera aa Takiwaa o Waikato) is the territorial authority for the Waikato District of New Zealand. It serves as the district's local government alongside the Waikato Regional Council as the regional council. The current entity has existed since 1989, prior to which local government in the area was split between five local authorities.
The governing body of the council has 13 councillors and is chaired by the mayor of Waikato (currently Aksel Bech since October 2025). There are also six community boards
History
The council was established in 1989, replacing Raglan County Council (established in 1876), Waikato County Council (established in 1876), Ngāruawāhia Borough Council (established in 1920), and Huntly Borough Council (established in 1931).[2][3]
Governing body
Mayor
One mayor is elected at-large; they chair meetings of the governing body and act as the head of local government in the district.
Mayor Aksel Bech was first elected as mayor in 2025,[4][5] and prior to that was first elected to the council in 2016, but failed to be elected as mayor in 2022.[6]
Current composition
The current members of the governing body of council are:[7][8]
| Role | Portrait | Name | Affiliation[9] | Ward | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | .jpg) |
Aksel Bech | Independent | Elected at-large | |
| Deputy mayor | Eugene Patterson | Independent | Newcastle-Ngāruawāhia | ||
| Councillor | Tilly Turner | Independent | Tai Runga Takiwaa | ||
| Councillor | Endine Dixon-Harris | Independent | Tai Raro Takiwaa | ||
| Councillor | Peter Thomson | Independent | Awaroa-Maramarua | ||
| Councillor | David Whyte | Independent | Huntly | ||
| Councillor | Grant Coombes | Independent | Newcastle-Ngāruawāhia | ||
| Councillor | Crystal Beavis | Independent | Tamahere-Woodlands | ||
| Councillor | Mike Keir | Independent | Tamahere-Woodlands | ||
| Councillor | Fabio Rodrigues | Independent | Tuakau-Pōkeno | ||
| Councillor | Vernon Reeve | Independent | Tuakau-Pōkeno | ||
| Councillor | Marlene Raumati | Independent | Waerenga-Whitikahu | ||
| Councillor | Carolyn Eyre | Independent | Western Districts | ||
| Councillor | Lisa Thomson | Independent | Whāingaroa | ||
Community boards
The Waikato District Council currently has six community boards:
- Huntly Community Board
- Ngāruawāhia Community Board
- Raglan Community Board
- Rural-Port Waikato Community Board
- Taupiri Community Board
- Tuakau Community Board[10]
Elections
List
Mayoral
- 1989
- 1992
- 1995
- 1998
- 2001
- 2004
- 2007
- 2010
- 2013
- 2016
- 2019
- 2022
- 2025
Council
- 1989
- 1992
- 1995
- 1998
- 2001
- 2004
- 2007
- 2010
- 2013
- 2016
- 2019
- 2022
- 2025
References
- ↑ "Mayor and councillors". Waikato District Council. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ Fraser, B (1986). The New Zealand Book of Events. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 978-0-474-00123-9.
- ↑ Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand 1966: Huntly
- ↑ "Local Elections 2025: Waikato District elects Aksel Bech as new mayor". Waikato Herald. The New Zealand Herald. 16 October 2025. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ O'Neill, Helena (11 October 2025). "UPDATED: Aksel Bech new Waikato mayor-elect". Franklin Times. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ Gill, Mary Anne (28 May 2025). "Waikato to get a mayoral rematch". Cambridge News. Retrieved 21 October 2025.
- ↑ "Mayor and councillors". www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. Waikato district Council. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Election Results". www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. Waikato District Council. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "Candidate contact information" (PDF). www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. Waikato District Council. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- ↑ "Community Boards". www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz. Waikato District Council. Retrieved 29 March 2026.