Experienced line up for Lambton ward

Experienced line up for Lambton ward

At least two existing councillors and one code-switching regional councillor will stand for election in the Pukehīnau/Lambton city council ward later this year.  Jane O’Loughlin reports.

Current Greater Wellington Regional councillor David Lee has confirmed he is standing for the central city ward of Pukehīnau/Lambton, hoping to return once again to the city council.

Lee has been on the regional council since 2019 as an independent.  Prior to that he represented the Green Party in the city council’s Paekawakawa/Southern ward for two terms.

He says his self-imposed two-term limit is in order to ensure fresh leadership.

Lee says is background in urban planning and governance means he knows ‘how to shape policy that works — and how to deliver it.’

Incumbent city councillor Nicola Young has confirmed she will stand again.  Young has been on council since 2013.

Young says she will continue her emphasis on keeping rates low, focusing on core council responsibilities, and ‘making Wellington both liveable and affordable’.

She is also a strong advocate for the arts.

Fellow incumbent Geordie Rogers will also stand, representing the Green Party.

Rogers secured the role in a by-election last year, triggered by the resignation of Tamatha Paul, after she took the role of MP for Wellington Central.

Rogers says he is committed to promoting green space within the inner-city, delivering ‘transformational’ transport projects, increasing the vibrancy of city streets, and

‘expanding our affordable housing programme’.

In last year’s by-election, Rogers squeaked through just 45 votes ahead of Karl Tiefenbacher, in a race contested by seven candidates.

This time, Tiefenbacher is standing for election as Mayor and also in the Motukairangi/Eastern ward.

The remaining incumbent in Pukehīnau/Lambton ward is Iona Pannett, who hasn’t announced her intentions yet.  Pannett has been on council since 2007, representing the Green Party until 2022 when the Wellington Greens refused to endorse her due to her support for heritage issues, and she stood as an independent.

Nominations for candidates open on 4 July, and close 1 August 2025.