The Electoral Commission says 207 voting places will open across New Zealand on Labour Day, with more opening during the following days.

This will be the first general election using the new Kenepuru and Kāpiti electorate boundaries, which replace the former Mana electorate.

Kenepuru covers central Porirua, Tītahi Bay, Cannons Creek, Waitangirua and Tawa, while Kāpiti includes Whitby, Pāuatahanui and Pukerua Bay.

The changes mean some residents will be choosing an electorate MP for a different electorate from the one they voted in at the last election.

Voters must already be enrolled. The deadline for enrolling or updating details was midnight on Sunday 25 October, and enrolment will not be available at voting places.

People who enrolled after 4 October but before the deadline will need to cast a special vote.

Voters do not need identification, although bringing an EasyVote card can make the process quicker.

Advance voting locations and opening hours vary, and not every voting place opens on Monday.

Residents can check their nearest voting place and its opening hours at vote.nz.

Voting closes at 7pm on election day, Saturday 7 November.

Dow received 2,306 votes, finishing ahead of Caroline Mareko, who received 1,598 votes.

Jess Te Huia was third with 838 votes, followed by Zac Painting with 645 and Siobhan Samuel with 319.

The council announced that Dow had been elected to fill the seat left vacant following the sudden death of councillor Mike Duncan in June.

However, the results remain provisional. They include ordinary votes received up to midday on Thursday 15 October but exclude votes received during the final 24 hours of voting and special votes.

Final results are expected early next week.

Dow, who has lived in Porirua for most of her life, campaigned on affordability, responsible council spending, environmental protection and creating more opportunities for local people.

In her official candidate statement, she described Porirua as a city with significant potential and emphasised the importance of protecting its neighbourhoods, communities and natural environment.

She highlighted her involvement in local planting and rubbish collection projects, arguing that looking after the harbour and environment was an investment in future generations.

“Porirua must be affordable,” she said in her candidate statement.

Dow argued that council rates needed to provide value for money while maintaining essential services. She also advocated for investment in local employment opportunities, particularly for young people, to help address cost-of-living pressures.

A parent, Board of Trustees member and community advocate, Dow also expressed concern about proposals to restructure local government across the Wellington region.

She said Porirua needed to retain a strong local voice in decisions affecting its future.

The by-election followed the death of Mike Duncan, who had been one of five councillors representing the Onepoto General Ward.

His death left the ward with four representatives: Hemi Fermanis, Kathleen Filo, Izzy Ford and Geoff Hayward.

The ward covers much of eastern and western Porirua, including Tītahi Bay, Cannons Creek, Waitangirua, Kenepuru and the central city.

Voting began in September, with residents using the Single Transferable Vote system to rank candidates in order of preference.

Dow’s arrival will restore the ward’s full representation at a significant time for Porirua City Council, with decisions ahead on rates, infrastructure, local services and the possibility of amalgamation with other Wellington region councils.

The new councillor will serve the remainder of the current council term, which runs until 2028.

Once the final election results have been confirmed, Dow is expected to make her formal declaration at the council meeting on Thursday 29 October.

The report, presented to Porirua City Council’s Te Puna Kōrero committee on 9 October, examines the first three years of work under the strategy, which was launched in late 2023.

Developed following engagement with mana whenua and taurahere Māori, Maungaroa 2050 sets out the council’s long-term approach to supporting Māori aspirations and strengthening its relationships with Māori communities.

The council says progress has been made across all five of the strategy’s priorities, including environmental restoration, business development, cultural recognition and greater Māori participation in council activities.

One of the most significant developments was the signing of Te Wai Ora o Parirua, the Porirua Harbour Accord, on Waitangi Day in February 2025.

The accord brings together Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Wellington City Council and Tiaki Wai.

Its purpose is to establish a shared commitment to restoring the environmental, ecological and cultural health of Porirua Harbour.

The progress report also identifies planting and restoration work, along with emergency preparedness initiatives involving Ngāti Toa Rangatira, local marae and community organisations.

Economic development is another focus. The council has supported Māori enterprise through programmes including BizHub, BizFest and Biz Ezi.

Within the council itself, work has included expanding bilingual signage, increasing staff knowledge of te reo Māori and tikanga, and adopting a new naming policy.

These changes are intended to strengthen recognition of Māori identity in public places and in the council’s everyday operations.

The report also follows the renewal of the council’s formal relationship with Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira.

In August 2026, the two organisations signed Whakaaetanga Patuitanga 2026, a refreshed strategic partnership agreement.

The agreement provides further opportunities for Te Rūnanga to contribute to council decisions and exercise leadership alongside the local authority on matters affecting Porirua.

At the October committee meeting, Ngāti Toa kaumātua Dr Taku Parai spoke of the significance of Maungaroa being based on Te Maungaroa, the anchor stone associated with Kupe.

“It’s a very unique baseline to base strategy and reporting on. It belongs to us here, in Porirua,” he said.

Council Manager Māori Strategy Jade Williams said the report demonstrated progress across the strategy’s priorities and provided a foundation for further work.

Mayor Anita Baker welcomed the developments, pointing to stronger relationships with Ngāti Toa and Māori communities, greater cultural visibility and improvements in council capability.

Although the council considers the strategy to be progressing, the report also identifies gaps and opportunities that will need attention during the next phase.

The council intends to publish a designed version of the three-year progress report in the coming weeks.

Porirua City Council’s latest regulatory report shows a sharp increase in complaints during the 2025/26 financial year, reversing a decline in the previous year.

Uncontrolled dogs are now the most common reason residents contact the council’s animal-control team.

During the three months to June, the council received 214 reports of uncontrolled dogs. Officers identified the dogs involved in 120 of those incidents.

Across the full financial year, 356 individual dogs were identified in uncontrolled-dog incidents. Of those, 81 dogs, or 23 per cent, were involved in more than one incident.

In the June quarter alone, 13 dogs were responsible for repeated incidents, accounting for 17 per cent of the complaints received during that period.

An uncontrolled-dog complaint generally involves a dog roaming freely or one that has been caught and secured by a member of the public.

However, council officers caution that the increase in complaints does not necessarily mean more dogs are wandering the streets.

Public concern following several high-profile dog attacks nationally may have encouraged residents to report wandering dogs more frequently.

The council’s figures also show a mixed picture of dog-related problems across the city.

While uncontrolled-dog complaints increased, reports involving aggressive dogs fell 8 per cent during 2025/26. There were 32 complaints involving aggressive dogs during the June quarter.

Complaints about nuisance barking increased 24 per cent over the financial year.

The figures come as Porirua City Council considers spending an additional $300,000 a year to extend its after-hours animal-control service.

The proposed funding is being considered as part of the council’s developing 2027–37 Long-term Plan.

Porirua already has an after-hours dog-control service operated by a contractor, including weekends and public holidays.

The existing service responds to aggressive-dog incidents and certain situations involving dogs that have already been contained. Matters requiring further investigation are generally handled by council animal-control officers during normal working hours.

The additional funding would expand the existing service rather than establish after-hours coverage for the first time.

The proposal also raises questions about how animal-control services should be funded.

In May, councillors voted to freeze dog registration fees for the 2026/27 year instead of proceeding with a proposed increase.

The decision was expected to reduce projected registration-fee revenue by around $50,000.

Council officers had recommended maintaining existing charges while a broader review considered how costs should be shared between dog owners and general ratepayers.

Animal control is partly funded through rates because its responsibilities extend beyond dog owners to protecting residents and people using public spaces.

The proposed additional $300,000 has not received final approval.

Residents are expected to be able to comment on the draft Long-term Plan during public consultation in March and April 2027, before the council adopts its final plan in June.

The Salvation Army is hosting the Meet the Candidates evening at its premises at 89 Warspite Avenue, Porirua, starting at 7pm.

Eight candidates are advertised to attend, representing Labour, National, the Greens, New Zealand First, Te Pāti Māori and Opportunity.

The candidates are:

• Barbara Edmonds – Labour
• Lan Pham – Green Party
• Matthew Evetts – National
• Jon Blackshaw – New Zealand First
• Te Pūoho Katene – Labour, Te Tai Hauāuru
• Debbie Ngarewa-Packer – Te Pāti Māori, Te Tai Hauāuru
• Coral Raukawa – National, Te Tai Hauāuru
• Robert Mason – Opportunity

The evening will give local residents an opportunity to hear directly from candidates ahead of the general election.

The Salvation Army says everyone is welcome to attend, and registration is not required.

Event details: Monday 12 October, 7pm, The Salvation Army, 89 Warspite Avenue, Porirua. Admission is open to all.

The project also includes a new walking and cycling route beside Porirua Harbour, but construction remains dependent on future budget decisions and external funding.

Councillors have retained the $10 million coastal protection allocation in their developing 2027–37 Long-term Plan. A further $4 million proposal for the shared pathway and harbourside planting was added to the list of capital projects under consideration.

The additional funding proposal was moved by Councillor Moira Lawler. The vote was tied five votes each before meeting chair Josh Trlin exercised his casting vote in favour, according to the council’s official meeting record.

Council documents estimate the full project at $24 million, comprising $20 million for coastal erosion protection along Tītahi Bay Road and Wi Neera Drive, and $4 million for a 1.4-kilometre shared pathway between Wi Neera Drive and Onepoto.

The proposed works would address erosion along a shoreline substantially altered by land reclamation in the 1950s. Sections of the reclaimed harbour edge have deteriorated over time, threatening the stability of the land beside the road.

Earlier council investigations identified particularly vulnerable areas near Onepoto, south of Te Pene Avenue and beside Takapūwāhia Reserve.

Rather than relying entirely on rock barriers, the coastal protection design combines engineered defences with saltmarsh planting and other measures intended to stabilise the shoreline and restore habitat within Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour.

The proposed pathway would also improve connections between Tītahi Bay, Takapūwāhia and central Porirua for people travelling on foot or by bicycle.

The project has a long history. Porirua City Council and Ngāti Toa first explored a harbourside boardwalk in 2002, with later proposals incorporating road protection and harbour restoration.

During consultation in 2018, 73 per cent of respondents who commented on pathway and coastal protection options supported a harbourside route and erosion repairs.

Subsequent consultation also identified concerns over parking, narrower traffic lanes and safe crossing points along Tītahi Bay Road. These issues helped shape the project’s design.

The necessary resource consents were secured by 2024, but rising construction costs and changes to government transport funding priorities prevented the project from proceeding to construction.

The latest council decision keeps the proposal in the city’s long-term planning process. It does not represent final construction approval or guarantee that all the necessary funding will be available.

Residents will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed spending during formal consultation on the draft 2027–37 Long-term Plan in March and April next year. The council expects to adopt the final plan in June 2027.

“I’m fuming,” Baker said.

“For six years, we have been pushed to confront how local government should be organised across the Wellington region. This Government turned up the pressure, told us the status quo wasn’t good enough and gave us a very tight timeframe to develop alternatives. So we did.

“Our four councils put forward a credible proposal after hundreds of hours of work and significant cost to ratepayers. You cannot spend months telling councils to be brave and work together, then lose your nerve when they do exactly that.”

Porirua City Council joined Wellington City Council, Hutt City Council and South Wairarapa District Council in supporting a proposal for a region-wide unitary authority.

Baker said the councils had engaged in good faith with the Government and their communities while responding to pressure for major structural change.

“It is difficult to reconcile this loss of nerve with a Government that demands greater efficiency from councils, threatens rates caps and continues to impose additional costs on local government.

“At a time when households are under real cost-of-living pressure, ratepayers are entitled to ask what has been achieved by putting councils through an expensive, time-consuming process only to send us back to the starting line.”

Labour’s Kāpiti candidate Sophie Handford, whose electorate includes Whitby, Paremata, Plimmerton and Camborne in northern Porirua, also criticised the delay and its cost to councils.

“Kāpiti Coast District Council and Porirua City Council were given just months to undertake significant work, commit staff time and spend ratepayer resources responding to a deadline imposed by the Government,” Handford said.

“Now, after councils have done the work National demanded of them, the Government has abandoned its own timetable and pushed the process beyond the election.”

Handford said the change raised questions about the Government’s handling of the process.

“For a Government that repeatedly talks about fiscal discipline, this is a real failure of planning and follow-through.

“People in Kāpiti and Porirua deserve a Government that treats their councils’ time and ratepayer money with respect. Decisions about the future of local government should be handled carefully and transparently, not through a rushed process that is changed after councils have already done the work.”

The Government announced on Thursday that none of the 18 Head Start proposals submitted nationally would move into detailed design at this stage.

Cabinet will instead consider the proposals in early 2027.

The Government had launched Head Start in May, giving councils three months to develop and submit proposals. In August, it said Cabinet would decide in September which proposals would progress to detailed design.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts said the overall quality of the proposals was high but more work was required before Cabinet could make final decisions.

“While the overall quality of proposals was high, none came with the unanimous view of the region, and some needed further analysis before they can progress. These are important gaps we must fill in prior to making final decisions.”

The Government identified representation, streamlined governance and the transfer and delivery of regional functions as areas requiring further development.

Rather than asking councils to undertake more detailed work immediately, officials will work through those issues over the coming months.

Baker also warned that any reform involving Greater Wellington Regional Council needed to clearly address what would happen to its responsibilities.

“I do not want Greater Wellington’s responsibilities simply dumped on Porirua and other city and district councils.”

She said major structural reform required central government to make difficult decisions, pointing to the creation of Auckland Council as an example.

“Wellington deserves the same clarity. Reform requires political courage from both sides of the central-local government relationship.

“Councils have stepped up. Porirua has stepped up. We have done what was asked of us. The Government should not walk away now. It needs to decide what it believes in and have the courage to back it.”

RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said the Government remained committed to local government reform and officials had been asked to provide further advice before a recommended package went to Cabinet.

The Government still expects proposals endorsed by Cabinet to be developed and considered for final approval during 2027, with any Head Start changes intended to be in place before the 2028 local elections.

The by-election follows the sudden death of councillor Mike Duncan in June, with five candidates standing for the vacant seat.

Voting closes at 12 noon on Friday 16 October.

Porirua Deputy Electoral Officer Jack Marshall encouraged residents to take the opportunity to have their say on who represents the ward at the Council table.

“We’re at a real time of change in Porirua, and around the country, when it comes to local government and the challenges we’re facing,” Marshall said.

“Keep an eye out for your voting papers and make sure you cast that vote.”

The by-election uses the Single Transferable Vote system, the same voting system used in Porirua’s regular local elections.

Voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one candidate.

Completed voting papers can be returned through 19 orange voting boxes located around the Onepoto General Ward, including at supermarkets and libraries. Papers can also be returned by post.

People who are eligible to vote but are not enrolled can still enrol through vote.nz.

They will then need to contact Porirua City Council’s elections team to arrange a special vote.

Candidate profiles can be seen below:

Jo Dow, Caroline Mareko, Zac Painting, Siobhan Samuel and Jess Te Huia will contest the by-election following the death of Councillor Mike Duncan in June.

Porirua City Council has published official candidate statements for all five candidates, along with candidate videos for four of them.

Porirua News has reproduced each candidate’s official statement in full below. Candidates are listed alphabetically by surname.

Jo Dow

Dow says her principal place of residence is within the Onepoto General Ward.

Her official candidate statement reads:

My principal place of residence is in the Onepoto General Ward area.

I want to acknowledge the sad passing of Mike Duncan, his whānau, and his service to our community.

I’m running for Mike’s seat because I believe Porirua is a city of real opportunity.

Having lived here most of my life, I love our city, neighbourhoods and communities.

I’ve led planting and rubbish collection projects because protecting our environment and harbour is an investment in future generations.

Porirua must be affordable. Our rates should deliver value for money and be spent wisely on the services we need. That means balancing rates while encouraging investment in local jobs that provide opportunities for young people and help ease cost-of-living pressures.

Government proposes to join regional councils together, so our local voice matters more than ever.

As a parent, Board of Trustees member and community advocate, I’ll stand up for Porirua to ensure people remain at the centre of decisions.

Please support me #1.

Caroline Mareko

Mareko says her principal place of residence is within the Onepoto General Ward.

Her official candidate statement reads:

My principal place of residence is in the Onepoto General Ward area.

I am standing for the Onepoto Ward because I love this community and believe the voices of everyday people deserve to be heard around the council table. My journey has always been about walking alongside others, celebrating successes, and helping remove barriers. Whether in schools and early childhood services, churches, community organisations and services, events and celebrations, my commitment remains the same – to serve with humility, integrity, and heart guided by respect, compassion, service, and a deep commitment to our people. Porirua is more than the place my family calls home. For over 50 years, it has been where generations of our whānau have lived, worked, learned, served, and raised our families. Its people, cultures, and communities have shaped who we are. We are Porirua, and I want to help ensure our city continues to thrive for the generations who will call it home after us.

Zac Painting

Painting says his principal place of residence is within the Onepoto General Ward.

His official candidate statement reads:

My principal place of residence is in the Onepoto General Ward area.

I am proudly Māori and Fijian, and I work as a local high school teacher. I am standing because local government is undergoing significant changes and I want Porirua to remain a city people can thrive in.

As we navigate the possible amalgamation of our region’s councils, I will stand up for local democracy and for Porirua to decide what is best for Porirua.

The way our water services run have changed, and I will work to ensure quality services are delivered while holding the new entity accountable.

I will also advocate for the environment, for a clean harbour and waterways, and support projects that restore our native wildlife and prepare our city for the impacts of climate change.

Public office is a serious responsibility, and I will be an active councillor that takes the time to listen, meet people where they are and make sure all voices are heard.

Siobhan Samuel

Samuel says her principal place of residence is not within the Onepoto General Ward.

Her official candidate statement reads:

My principal place of residence is not in the Onepoto General Ward area.

My name is Siobhan Samuel and I’m standing for local council because I believe strong communities start with strong families. As a lifelong Porirua local, local business owner and mother of 6, I understand the everyday pressures families face – balancing work, raising children, accessing opportunities and building safe, connected neighbourhoods.

For more than a decade, I’ve built businesses that bring people together, create jobs and help others succeed. I want to bring that same practical, solutions-focused approach to council.

I believe every decision should be made with future generations in mind. That means advocating for safer public spaces, thriving local businesses, quality community facilities, better support for our elderly and opportunities for young people to grow and succeed close to home.

My commitment is simple: Always put people first and make decisions that are in the best interests of our community.

Jess Te Huia

Te Huia says her principal place of residence is within the Onepoto General Ward.

Her official candidate statement reads:

My principal place of residence is in the Onepoto General Ward area.

For 25 years, I have been advocating for the people of Porirua, helping whānau navigate life’s challenges.

I work alongside government agencies and community organisations, advocating for whānau, challenging systems that aren’t working, and bringing people together to achieve positive outcomes.

Born and raised in Porirua, I care deeply about the community that raised me. I’ve seen the impact of housing insecurity, rising living costs, and the pressures many whānau face. Those experiences have strengthened my commitment to ensuring people are heard, supported, and connected to the services they need.

I’m standing for council because I want to bring that same advocacy to the council table. I won’t shy away from speaking up, challenging decisions when they aren’t in our community’s best interests, and being your voice around the council table because the decisions made there affect us all. Our community deserves someone who will stand up for them.

Voting papers for the Onepoto General Ward by-election will begin arriving from 14 September.

Completed voting papers must reach the Electoral Officer by midday on 16 October.