Rohan O'Neill-Stevens
New Zealand politician (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rohan Tomas Sean O'Neill-Stevens (born 2000) is a New Zealand politician who served as deputy mayor of Nelson from 2022 to 2025.
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2000 (age 25–26)
Rohan O'Neill-Stevens | |
|---|---|
O'Neill-Stevens in 2026 | |
| 20th Deputy Mayor of Nelson | |
| In office 2022–2025 | |
| Preceded by | Judene Edgar |
| Succeeded by | Pete Rainey |
| Nelson City Councillor | |
| In office 2019–2025 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rohan Tomas Sean O'Neill-Stevens 2000 (age 25–26) Nelson, New Zealand |
In 2019, he was elected to Nelson City Council as its youngest ever councillor, and was reelected in 2022.[1] He did not seek reelection in 2025.
He is standing as the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand candidate in the electorate of Nelson for the 2026 general election.[2] He convened their 2023 general election campaign,[3] and previously served as the co-convenor of the party's youth wing.
Early life and education
O'Neill-Stevens is of Māori and European descent, and is of Ngāti Apakura.[4] In 2017, while studying at Nelson College he was awarded a scholarship to attend UWC Robert Bosch College in Germany.[5]
Political career
Nelson City Council
In the 2019 New Zealand local elections, O'Neill-Stevens was elected to the Nelson City Council, aged 19.[6][7] O'Neill-Stevens campaigned on issues such as public transport improvements, youth engagement, and housing.[8]
In the 2022 New Zealand local elections, O'Neill-Stevens ran for re-election and for mayor of Nelson, campaigning on three pillars: "a strong city, resilient communities, and healthy nature".[9][10] He finished in third place for the mayoralty and was reelected as a councillor, as the highest polling At Large candidate.[11] Following the election, O'Neill-Stevens was appointed deputy mayor by Mayor Nick Smith to "provide balance", with Smith highlighting their different political leanings.[12]
While on Council, O'Neill-Stevens led the City Revitalisation Taskforce, overseeing the council's $78 million "Bridge to Better" project,[13] served as Chair of the Arts and Creativity Taskforce and City Centre Business Forum, and as Deputy Chair of the District Licensing and Infrastructure committees.[14][15] He also served as Co-Chair of Local Government New Zealand's Young Elected Members Committee and as President of Trafinz, the New Zealand Local Authority Traffic Institute.[16]
In June 2025, O'Neill-Stevens announced he would not stand for reelection in the 2025 New Zealand local elections, citing a commitment to be in "the most effective position ... to drive change" and did not rule out a shift to central government.[17] Mayor Nick Smith said he "disappointed for Nelson" that O'Neill-Stevens was not seeking reelection, calling his appointment as deputy mayor as one of his best decisions, and predicted O'Neill-Stevens would be elected to Parliament "sooner rather than later".[18][19]
Political positions
Housing
O'Neill-Stevens supports housing density, calling "subpar and unaffordable housing" a "stain" on New Zealand.[20] He voted against Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council's Future Development Strategy for having "lowballed intensification" and failing to change the way council's approach urban planning.[21]
In August 2023, O'Neill-Stevens was appointed to a Nelson City Council hearings panel as a resource management commissioner, to consider Plan Change 29, the council's controversial proposed housing intensification planning rule changes.[22]
Transport
O'Neill-Stevens has advocated for public and active transport improvements, and in 2021, moved a motion for Nelson City Council to support free public transport for students, under-25s and community services card holders which was narrowly defeated.[23]
Gambling
O'Neill-Stevens has spoken out against the harm of gaming machines, and in 2021, he moved a motion to adopt a sinking lid policy to reduce the number of machines in Nelson.[24]
Personal life
In 2014, O'Neill-Stevens' older brother died after falling through a skylight at Wellington Cathedral.[26][citation needed]