2022 Lower Hutt mayoral election
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8 October 2022
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| Turnout | 31,113 (40.24%) | |||||||||||||||
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The 2022 Lower Hutt mayoral election was part of the wider 2022 New Zealand local elections. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Lower Hutt plus other local government positions including twelve city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
Fundraising
The incumbent Mayor, Campbell Barry, stood for a second term. He was opposed by retailer Falgoon Patel and former Hutt City Council chief executive Tony Stallinger.[1] Stallinger was critical of the council finances promising to reduce spending and limit rate increases, contrasting to Barry who campaigned on investment into infrastructure for the city.[2] Stallinger set up United Hutt, a political grouping which claimed to oppose the presence of political parties in local government, which media commented as being a contradiction in terms.[3]
United Hutt and its candidates were criticised for using the organisation to obscure election funding transparency by not listing donations over $1500 and not recording all of their expenses.[4] A former mathematics teacher, Wayne Paaka, who was involved with the local Labour Party, complained to the council alleging United Hutt had breached the election rules around returns. The council returning officer, Bruce Hodgins, stated United Hutt's election return was not made in the spirit of the relevant legislation and also lacked transparency. Hodgins consequently referred Paaka's complaint to the police.[5]
| Source | Type | Date Received | Amount (NZD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amalgamated Workers Union NZ | Union | 07/08/2022 | $2,000 |
| E TU Incorporated | Union | 13/05/2022 | $5,000 |
| Rail & Maritime Transport Union | Union | 05/03/2022 | $3,000 |
| Simon Werry | Political Family | 13/9/22 to 4/10/22 | $2,450 |
| Dick Werry | Political Family[7] | 22/07/2022 | $2,000 |
| Hutt South LEC | Political Party | 08/09/2022 | $5,000 |
| Ginny Andersen | Politician | 05/08/2022 | $1,800 |
| Total: | $21,250 | ||
| Source | Type | Date Received | Amount (NZD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Hutt Incorporated | Political Party | July to November 2022 | $34,892.05 |
| Total: | $34,892.05 | ||