Close race for second Waipā-King Country seat
| Published: | 13/10/2025 |
Updated preliminary counts show a close race for the second Waipā-King Country seat, with incumbent Stu Kneebone 62 votes behind Liz Stolwyk.
That’s a change on the initial count on election day, which had Kneebone ahead by 107. Garry Reymer is the other Waipā-King Country elected member based on results.
Special votes are still to be counted, with the final numbers expected between 16 and 19 October.
Kneebone is a five-term regional councillor. Stolwyk would become the fourth new regional councillor for the 2025-28 triennium, joining Garry Reymer, Gary McGuire and Keith Holmes.
There are no other changes in the results reported on Saturday, with Kataraina Hodge, Tipa Mahuta, Angela Strange, Chris Hughes, Ben Dunbar-Smith, Jennifer Nickel, Warren Maher, Robert Cookson, Noel Smith and Mich’eal Downard returning.
The updated vote counts are below.
Waikato Regional Council councillors (preliminary results)
Hamilton general constituency (4 vacancies)
|
Chiles, Pam |
4541 |
|
|
Clarkson, Bruce |
10,378 |
|
|
Dunbar-Smith, Ben |
13,327 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Hughes, Chris |
13,666 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Nickel, Jennifer |
11,486 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Penny, Henry |
6095 |
|
|
Ratcliffe, Robin |
9868 |
|
|
Strange, Angela |
15,301 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Tikkisetty, Bala |
7108 |
|
|
Westwood, Phillip |
2406 |
|
Ngā Tai Ki Uta Māori constituency (1 vacancy)
|
Hodge, Kataraina |
|
Elected unopposed |
Ngā Hau E Whā Māori constituency (1 vacancy)
|
Mahuta, Tipa |
|
Elected unopposed |
Taupō-Rotorua general constituency (1 vacancy)
|
Davies, Debbie |
2156 |
|
|
Downard, Mich’eal |
7694 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Mair, Deb |
2654 |
|
Thames-Coromandel general constituency (1 vacancy)
|
Maher, Warren |
8714 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Roxburgh, Jason |
3550 |
|
Waihou general constituency (2 vacancies)
|
Algra, Lindsay |
1959 |
|
|
Cavendish, Walt |
6066 |
|
|
Cookson, Robert |
10908 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Holmes, Keith |
9539 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Taylor, Julie |
5054 |
|
Waikato general constituency (2 vacancies)
|
Craig, Rhys |
3012 |
|
|
McGuire, Gary |
10,030 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Smith, Noel |
8040 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Storey, Pamela |
6872 |
|
Waipā-King Country general constituency (2 vacancies)
|
Graf, Clyde |
5945 |
|
|
Kneebone, Stu |
9100 |
|
|
Reymer, Garry |
9962 |
Elected (preliminary) |
|
Stolwyk, Liz |
9162 |
Elected (preliminary) |