How to vote pro-housing in Wellington
The candidates who support more homes in this local election
Local elections are upon us! And we at A City for People are particularly keen to get you (an intelligent and discerning pro-housing voter) information about which of the Wellington City Council candidates support building more homes and getting us out of our horrible housing crisis.
That’s why you can see below which candidates support the historic win in the 2024 District Plan, which will set our beautiful city up for more affordable, well-located, healthy, warm, dry homes for decades to come.
Each candidate was asked: “Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?”. (thanks to Kasey at the excellent threesixtysix blog for running the responses). We also checked incumbent councillors’ responses against their actual voting record.
We will hold future candidates to their promises. The good news is the new council can’t legally go back on the 2024 District Plan - that process was final and binding. Any new plan changes will have to be under the proposed replacement RMA, which will probably require councils to enable even more homes and great stuff like allowing shops and pubs to mix into our newly densified neighbourhoods.
I would also encourage you to check out other voting guides:
Cycle Wellington endorsements on their Facebook page
Other big housing-related issues to look out for when voting include: paying for big social housing stock upgrades, appropriately setting up our new regional water entity to support new development, and investing in all the goodies that support new homes like transport options and lovely local amenities.
Have a look below for your ward! Happy voting 🌇
🗳️ Your voting pack should be arriving in your letterbox if you don’t have it already. Make sure you post your vote before 7 October. Still need to enrol? Where to drop your voting papers? Want more info? Go to the Council website.
As a reminder the question was: Do you support the 2024 District Plan and the National Policy Statement on Urban Development?
Mayor
Alex Baker - Independent
Yes. Though I believe the NPS UD could have gone even further and better enabled high quality development.
Scott Caldwell – The Scoot Foundation
I have a long history writing and speaking extensively in favour of transit-oriented development & how to get the most out of it. I have been one of the country's loudest and most positive voices for this during the NPS-UD, MDRS, Spatial Plan, and District Plan. Any problems I have with these are that we didn't end strongly enough.
Diane Calvert - Not Affiliated
[No response, voted against the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Ray Chung - Independent Together
[No response, voted against the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Rob Goulden – My Vision for the City 2050
No, I think we need a new plan. See my Letter to the people of Wellington where I spell out my vision for how we can revitalize Wellington and take it forward
Kelvin Hastie – Independent
I do, ifn fact I avocated for it.
Andrew Little - Labour
Yes, absolutely. I was a Senior Minister in the Labour-led Government that implemented the NPS-UD, and I support and want to build on the pro-housing District Plan changes.
Joan Shi - Independent
So far, I support the National Policy Statement on Urban Development. I support most of the 2024 District Plan, with some exceptions. For example, the Proposed District Plan requires bike parking in new developments but does not require car parks. Another case is that the 2024 District Plan assumes Wellington will grow by another 50,000–80,000 people, which I have doubts about.
Karl Tiefenbacher - Independent
No as it is likely to result in less development.
Takapū Northern Ward
John Apanowicz – A Voice for Wellington
Yes, I voted for it. [Correct]
Andrea Compton - Smart spending. Strong future.
[No response]
Mark Flynn – ACT Local
No
Michael Hill – Independent
I support having community housing hubs close to transport options, but this needs to be considered against the level of infrastructure supporting it. I would also want to see more community engagement to help shape what this looks like and address considerations such as inter-generational living (Blue Zones). I am not in favour of simply creating high density housing without a community rationale behind it.
Ben McNulty – Labour
Yes, I do. [Correct, Ben voted for the 2024 District Plan]. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land.
Tony Randle - Independent - no party affiliation
[No response, Tony voted against the 2024 District Plan]
Joan Shi – Independent
So far, I support the National Policy Statement on Urban Development. I support most of the 2024 District Plan, with some exceptions. For example, the Proposed District Plan requires bike parking in new developments but does not require car parks. Another case is that the 2024 District Plan assumes Wellington will grow by another 50,000–80,000 people, which I have doubts about.
Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward
Ray Bowden – ACT Local
No
Diane Calvert - Not Affiliated
[No response, voted against the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Ray Chung - Independent Together
[No response, voted against the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Lily Brown – Independent, formerly Independent Together
[No response but generally said “Climate is not one of the core platforms that I am running on so I won't be providing further comments.”]
Joy Gribben – Labour
Yes, I do. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land.
Kelvin Hastie – Independent
I do, ifn fact I avocated for it.
Rebecca Matthews – Green Party
Hell yes! I drove the key amendments to enable thousands more homes close to the city and public transport. [Correct] I am so proud of what we achieved and optimistic about the outcomes it will deliver.
Guy Nunn - Independent Together
[No response]
Pukehīnau Lambton Ward
Afnan Al-Rubayee – Labour
Yes, I do. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land.
Rodney Barber – No Affiliation
[Referred to another answer which could not be deciphered as yes or no]
Tony De Lorenzo – Independent
I support higher density housing in the inner city and I am opposed to fertile land being converted to housing.
Zan Rai Gyaw - Residents-only voting
[no response]
David Lee – Let's Get Wellington Working
While I support well-planned urban intensification, I cannot fully endorse the current National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD) because it creates direct conflicts with the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM). […] We must reconcile these competing policies before blindly implementing density rules that could harm our environment.
Teal Mau – No Affiliation
Council’s focus should be on infrastructure to support growth, not setting national housing rules. I will ensure our network services, transport, and community facilities can cope with change, rather than stretching Council into areas it shouldn’t be managing.
Dan Milward - Independent, formerly Independent Together
[no response]
Geordie Rogers - Green Party
Absolutely, encouraging a more compact urban form is the best way to enable people to make more sustainable transport choices that reduce their costs and emissions. [Geordie voted for the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Tim Ward
[no response]
Stuart Wong - Independent Together
[no response]
Nicola Young - Independent - for an affordable city
[no response, Nicola voted against the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Motukairangi Eastern Ward
Alex Baker – Independent
Yes. Though I believe the NPS UD could have gone even further and better enabled high quality development.
Chris Calvi-Freeman – Independent
I support policies that promote the creation of more homes by making housing easier and more cost-effective to build. I especially support residential intensification around publictransport hubs and along major transport links. I am aware that there has been controversy about the reduction in heritage-zoned areas and I am concerned to ensure that new housing is of good quality and appropriate to the neighbourhood into which it is being introduced.
Trish Given – Independent
Yes. We need more well-located, affordable, climate-friendly housing. Intensifying near transport corridors and services makes sense, but it must be done well - with quality design, green space, and infrastructure that supports thriving, diverse and vibrant communities.
Rob Goulden – My Vision for the City 2050
No, I think we need a new plan. See my Letter to the people of Wellington where I spell out my vision for how we can revitalize Wellington and take it forward.
Thomas Morgan – Very Independent
Not sure. I've not seen the policy statement and won't be looking into the matter until I have a mandate to do something about it if needed.
Sam O'Brien – Labour
Yes, I do. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land.
Jonny Osborne – Green Party
Yes. I support rules and regulations that encourage the development of good-quality affordable housing within our city, especially near major transport routes and community facilities.
Karl Tiefenbacher – Independent
No as it is likely to result in less development
Ken Ah Kuoi - Independent Together
[no response]
Luke Kuggeleijn - ACT Local
[no response]
Michelle McGuire - Independent Together
[no response]
Paekawakawa Southern Ward
Nureddin Abdurahman – Labour
Yes, I do. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land. [Nureddin voted for the 2024 District Plan as councillor]
Laurie Foon – Green Party
Yes I have supported this and continue to do so. [Laurie voted for the It is important that in Wellington we continue to densify close to the city centre, and inner city suburbs with good active and public transport infrastructure, helping car share to be a better option than owning a car so you can easily live a low carbon lifestyle.
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward
Te Paea Paringatai – No Affiliation
These frameworks provide clarity for how Wellington might grow in a way that is resilient, efficient, and equitable. Intensification in the right places, near transport, services, and green infrastructure, is fundamental. What’s essential now is delivery that reflects Tūpiki Ora: protecting wāhi tapu, enabling papakāinga and housing aspirations, and advancing cultural landscape planning into the mainstream. This isn’t new policy, it reflects our shared responsibility and our collective commitment to future generations.
Matthew Reweti – Labour
Yes, I do. Labour councillors were one of the drivers of the ambitious new District Plan enabling more homes to be built, led the conversion of empty offices into affordable rentals, protected our public housing stock, and kickstarted the review of rates policy to incentivise development of vacant land.
Tory Whanau - Green Party
Yes [Correct, Tory voted for the 2024 District Plan as mayor]
NB. A few candidates that are clearly a joke / not serious have been excluded to make this guide more concise and useful. Some candidates’ responses were cut short for brevity where they went away from the question. See the full responses here.