Electoral Candidates 2025
Wellington City Council Lambton/Pukehīnau ward
Afnan Al-Rubayee Labour
We need a city built for people, with communities shaping decisions, not just responding to them. I’m committed to creating a city where people can build a future – with good jobs, decent housing, and opportunities to thrive.
Wellington needs to make serious progress on housing, transport, climate, infrastructure and fixing the pipes. We need to keep community facilities open. We need a city we can afford. These are my priorities.
But to achieve all those things we need a refreshed and constructive Council that really listens.
I’m a public servant with a background in NGO governance and grassroots community organising. I came to Wellington as a refugee, grew up in public housing, and now rent in the heart of the city. Because of these experiences I stand for inclusive, community-led change.
Please consider voting Afnan Al-Rubayee #1 for a Council that listens and for a bold, fair future – built together.
027 314 2490
Tony De Lorenzo Independent
I love Wellington but think we can do better. I want to move away from ideology, to focussing on needs of residents today.
I live and work from home in Mt Cook for Debra, my wife, in our interior design business. Our social life revolves around theatre’s restaurants and bars of the inner city. In my neighbourhood I’ve organised several graffiti removal working bees and attended community litter pickups.
I want to get better control of spending to reduce rates. Then support community initiatives that improve Wellington. All Wellingtonians want to see our city do better and I see the role of the council to support and help these groups rather than find reasons to say no.
I want a council that says “Yes” and helps residents and businesses navigate red tape.
Wellington is a great city with so much talent. It is all here. Let’s do things better.
021 653 674
Stuart Wong Independent Together - Vote For IT
I am standing because I have seen our beautiful city go backwards with our past and current councils. I want to bring back Wellington as the best city in the country to live, work, and play in.
My connection in this ward is that I live in the beautiful hills of Mt Victoria and enjoy the closeness with our business centre. For all of my working life I have been involved in the hospitality sector and continue to be. I have raised my family in this lovely city, and I want others to do the same.
My priorities will be working towards zero rates increases, sensible spending, protecting community assets, bringing access to business, restoring the city as a social hub and no party politics. I will make sure essential services like water and major infrastructure projects come first.
Don't go wrong, Vote Stuart Wong #1 Independent Together
027 443 8318
David Lee Let's Get Wellington Working
I’m standing because Wellington needs disciplined, practical leadership to get our finances under control and restore affordability for residents and businesses. In just six years, council debt has quadrupled to $2.1 billion, while rates keep rising and basic services come under pressure. As an experienced governor, entrepreneur, and urban planner, I bring over 20 years of governance and commercial expertise, with a proven record of delivering results and making tough financial decisions.
I have a strong connection to the Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward — having lived, worked, and invested here through my own business interests. Lambton Ward is the heart of our city; home to our CBD, universities, and key institutions. I’m committed to protecting its vitality and future.
Let’s Get Wellington Working: jobs, infrastructure, leadership — by prioritising essential stuff over costly vanity projects, revitalising the CBD economy, and delivering value for every rates dollar.
021 220 2357
WEBSITE davidlee4lambton.com
Rodney Barber Independent for Public Value
I’m standing because Wellington needs stronger communities and smarter decisions, especially in the city’s political, economic and cultural heart. I’ve worked in the Lambton Ward for 33 years.
As a Chartered Accountant, a former Treasury official, and an IMF expert, I’ve spent decades helping governments invest wisely. But what matters most is every decision delivers real value to the communities it affects.
But I’m not just about systems, I’m about people.
As Chair of the Aotearoa Community Resilience Network and the Newlands Resilience Group, I’m helping to build connected, prepared communities from the ground up.
Here’s what I stand for:
- Stronger communities where people look out for each other
- Safer, better-prepared neighbourhoods
- Smarter decisions that reflect your voice
- Rates that reflect real value to you.
If elected, I’ll focus on listening, connecting communities, and making sure big projects reflect local voices, not just top-down plans.
WEBSITE www.barberassociates.org
Nicola Young Independent For An Affordable City
I love our city, but it’s increasingly unaffordable, and Council is partly to blame. Residential rates have increased 47% since 2022 and will go up 25% by 2028 – hardly surprising given every $5m spent is 1% on the rates – but there’s not much to show for it. Council should start living within its means by axing projects such as the Golden Mile ($50m), extension of the cycleway network ($70m), the recently approved organic waste collection ($35m), and also review staffing requirements.
I grew up in Mount Victoria on Brougham Drive (now Batham Drive), went to primary school at St Mary’s, Thorndon, and have lived on Elizabeth Street since 2018. My family arrived in Wellington in 1847, and we’ve lived in Lambton ever since.
As an independent my focus is our city (not party politics), fighting the punishing rates increases, fixing the water infrastructure, focusing on core services, and listening to Wellingtonians.
WEBSITE https://www.facebook.com/NicolaYoungWellington
021 654 844
Teal Mau
I’m standing for Pukehīnau–Lambton Ward because Wellington needs common-sense leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a council that truly listens. I want to help get our city back on track — making it safer, more vibrant, and financially sustainable.
I have lived and worked in the ward with my small business for nearly 30 years, building strong ties to our communities, local businesses, and residents. I’ve seen both the potential and the challenges here — from neglected infrastructure to concerns about safety, spending, and transparency.
If elected, I will prioritise disaster readiness so Wellington is prepared and resilient in the face of earthquakes or severe weather. I will push for rates accountability to ensure every dollar is spent wisely, focusing on essentials before extras. And I will hold regular community meetings so residents and businesses can engage directly with their councillor, share concerns, and help shape solutions.
“The first step in solving any problem is recognising there is one.”
027 325 3245
Tim Ward
I have spent 30+ years building iconic venues like Matterhorn and San Fran, navigating regulation, tight budgets, and high pressure.
I love this city and the people that live here. It faces a serious infrastructure deficit, rising rates, and a pattern of thinking that wastes money. I’m standing because I believe I can help to fix our foundations while keeping the creative, vibrant heart of our city alive.
I grew up in Lambton, schooled here, built many successful businesses, employed hundreds of people, and helped grow the city’s cultural scene. I know its streets, its people, and its potential.
Open my door and respond to the needs of the community.
Focus on core infrastructure and lobby for greater central government funding.
Work for safer streets, smarter cycleways and public transport corridors.
Work with local businesses.
Champion and protect and grow small performance venues and creative organisations.Invest city assets with purpose for long-term resilience.
WEBSITE timward.co.nz
021 453 003
Dan Milward Independent - Go Forward with Milward
Wellington has always been my coolest little capital.
I grew up here, and now I’m raising my own family here. I’m standing because Wellington has become unaffordable for my family, and for future generations. I want to fix that. It’s the heart of the city. It’s where I grew up, met my wife, and spent hours doing business & inventing products.
Key priorities if elected
- Wellington is the only major city in New Zealand with a declining population. We must stop the exodus of people leaving, and give themreasons to stay.
- The city should be more affordable, people need to feel safe, we need to improve access for everyone and empower businesses to thrive.
- Partner with my peers in the creative sector to help revitalise the city with low-cost, innovative solutions.
- Vote against non-essential projects that put ratepayers further into debt.
021 449 901
Zan Rai Gyaw Residents-Only Voting
2022 was the first time I stood for Council, trying to introduce my Taxi-Pooling idea. I attended 6 candidate meetings. (Please believe me,) I got to see activists and instances where issues were raised that had no relevance to the city or to the city council.
While constantly critical of myself, I got audacious for 2024 By-Election and called for residents-only voting in Wellington. So, here I am, here we are in 2025, without MOB, CAB and the Civic Square, for example.
My top two equal priorities are to bring about my advocacy as soon as possible and to trim the council back to its expressed purposes of core services and planning.
I’m originally from Myanmar and I came to NZ in 2001 to study a 2-year mechanical diploma.
Wellington resident since 2008; apart from Kaiwharawhara (5yrs.), I have always lived in Lambton Ward. Guitar enthusiast in my spare time.
Authorised by Zan Rai Gyaw, zanrg7@gmail.com
Geordie Rogers Green Party
I’m proud to have been your Councillor for the past year making real progress. But we have more to do to build the affordable, liveable, and climate resilient city we deserve.
With Matairangi on our doorsteps Mt Victoria has a special place in everyone’s hearts. When I first moved to Wellington my colleagues and I would often run together on Matairangi before a quick swim in the harbour. Our town belt is world class.
We need to continue to invest in fantastic places like Matairangi, enable more affordable housing nearby and improve our public transport to unlock Wellington’s full potential. This term I secured 183 affordable apartments, decarbonised our pools saving the environment and ratepayers $10m and tripled our investment in water.
We can have more affordable housing, fast and frequent public transport, resilient public infrastructure, stronger climate action and an inner city everyone can enjoy.
022 479 5847
