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Results from previous elections

Every three years, Buller residents vote for a mayor, councillors, and community board members to represent their community. You can find the results from the Local Body Election 2025 on this page.

The Buller District Council consists of 11 elected members, the Mayor and 10 councillors. The current Council was sworn in on 29 October 2025. 

The Buller District is divided into three wards – Seddon (2 elected representatives), Westport (6 elected representatives) and Inangahua (2 elected representatives). There are also four representatives on the Inangahua Community Board.

Wards are areas of a district identified for electoral purposes. They work in the same way as seats in a general election. Currently, people can only vote for candidates in their wards, but everyone gets to vote for who they want to be mayor. 

Although candidates stand for their ward area when voted on to the council, councillors swear an oath to work for the entire district. The idea of the ward system is that all parts of the district are fairly represented. We have a detailed map of the wards available to find out what ward you live in. 

Buller District Council elected members

The final results for the Buller District Council held on Saturday, 11 October 2025, are below. You can find out more about your elected members on our Mayor and Councillor page.

Mayor

  • Mayor - Chris Russell

Inangahua Ward

  • Linda Webb
  • Dave Hawes

Seddon Ward

  • Rosalie Sampson
  • Toni O’Keefe

Westport Ward

  • Shayne Barry
  • Colin Reidy
  • Philip Rutherford
  • Ray Curnow
  • Dave Hingston
  • Paul Reynolds

Non-elected Maori Portfolio Councillor

  • Ned Tauwhare

Final results from 2025 local elections

 

Mayoralty

   Votes received
RUSSELL, Chris   1,432
     
CLEINE, Jamie   1,331
WEBB, Linda   1,329
OSMASTON, Richard (Money Free Party NZ) 45
INFORMAL   2
BLANK VOTING PAPERS   60

Chris RUSSELL is declared elected.

 

Westport   Votes received
BARRY, Shayne  (Independent) 1,460
REIDY, Colin (Independent) 1,176
RUTHERFORD, Philip   1,167
CURNOW, Ray   1,136
HINGSTON, Dave   1,113
REYNOLDS, Paul   1,104
     
NEWBURRY, Stephanie   1,100
GEAR, Nick   1,029
WYLDE, Ross   1,005
O'DEA, Pat   878
DE FRIEZ, Veronica L  (Independent) 725
BASHER, Andrew   720
GRAFTON, Philip   717
BEAUMONT, Andrew   559
HILTON, Jim   517
HAMILL, Pauline   488
WESTON, Grant   484
INFORMAL   7
BLANK VOTING PAPERS   1

Shayne BARRY, Ray CURNOW, Dave HINGSTON, Colin REIDY, Paul REYNOLDS and Philip RUTHERFORD are declared elected.

 

Seddon Ward
Because the number of candidates standing for this election was not more than the number of vacancies, Toni O'KEEFE and Rosalie SAMPSON are elected unopposed.

 

Inangahua Ward
Because the number of candidates standing for this election was not more than the number of vacancies, Dave HAWES and Linda WEBB are elected unopposed.

 

Inangahua Community Board   Votes received
FORTUNE, Tony   433
BOLLINGER, Alun   322
ABBEY, Don   293
GARDNER, Gwen   253
     
KENNEDY, Nicky (Independent) 233
NEIL, Lisa   182
TONKIN, Keith   175
INFORMAL   1
BLANK VOTING PAPERS   0

Don ABBEY, Alun BOLLINGER, Tony FORTUNE and Gwen GARDNER are declared elected.

 

The voter return was 54.6%, being 4,199 votes, including special votes.

Final results for the election of two Buller councillors for the West Coast Regional Council, and the election of one Buller trustee for Development West Coast, will be declared by the respective Electoral Officers, and will be available on the Regional Council website www.wcrc.govt.nz and the DWC website www.westcoast.co.nz/development-west-coast

Anthony Morton
Electoral Officer
Buller District Council
16 October 2025

Electoral donations and expenses

Find the full electoral donations and expenses for all candidates below.

Council resolution on electoral system

In accordance with section 28 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 (Act), Council has resolved to use ‘First Past the Post’ (FPP) as its Electoral System for the 2025 and 2028 Triennial Elections.

Below is the Resolution of Council from the meeting held on Wednesday 30 August 2023

RESOLVED that the Council:

In accordance with section 28 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 (Act), notice is given that the Buller District Council has resolved at its meeting on 30 August 2023, to use ‘First Past the Post’ (FPP) as its Electoral System for the 2025 and 2028 Triennial Elections.

Electors have the right to demand a poll, in accordance with section 29 of the Act, to countermand this resolution.

The choice is between the FPP and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral systems. Unless a poll or further resolution determines otherwise, the FPP electoral system will continue to be used by Buller District Council.

A valid demand for a poll must be:

  • Made in writing;
  • Signed by at least five percent of the number of electors enrolled as eligible to vote at the previous triennial election of the Buller District Council (the five percent threshold from the 2022 electoral roll is 389 elector signatures); and
  • Delivered to the Electoral Officer of the Buller District Council, 6-8 Brougham Street, Westport by 11 December 2023.

Every elector who signs a demand must also provide their full name and the address for which they are qualified as an elector of the Buller District Council.

If a valid demand for a poll is received by 11 December 2023, the poll will be held no later than 14 March 2024, and will have effect for the 2025 and 2028 triennial general elections. If however a valid demand for a poll is received after 11 December 2023, then the poll will be held after 14 March 2024, and will have effect for the 2028 and 2031 elections.

Dated at Buller this 31st day of August 2023.

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