Meet the colourful characters in Tauranga's local election | Q+A 2024

For the first time in almost five years, the people of Tauranga will get to vote for a mayor and councillors after their last elected council was replaced by commissioners. A total of 86 candidates - a mixture of old and new faces - have put their hands up for the jobs, with 15 vying for the mayoralty.
The new council elected this year will serve an unprecedented four-year term, with the next vote taking place at the 2028 local elections.
Voting closes at midday on July 20, with preliminary results released later that afternoon.
Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

[@ianstephenson9471]

We are truly in trouble.

[@CJWahanui]

Good luck Ria 👍

[@kiwis0uth]

Go for it Hori BOP, ex Navy man, what could possibly go wrong?

[@H4KTNNT]

The last mayor was ex army. It went wrong 😅😅😅

[@stevehughes1510]

Doug Owens is a good man, knows the terrain down there oh so well.

[@richardwyatt934]

Mahe Drysdale is the best choice.

[@kenking3188]

We dont need singers etc. anne tolley and mahuta did not improve this city

[@natedagr8zt]

Get rid of the old stale colonisers in council, Tauranga has a reputation for racism

[@MediVacPack]

The racist stigma Tauranga deserves change.

[@Arms26]

Its time for new faces and new ideas. As a Tauranga local, I hope Ria gets it!

[@richardjooste4636]

Lol like our ex fish and chip shop worker did NZ well

[@Arms26]

Ria!

[@user-kx3js9ec2h]

go Ria

[@karlbarkley9572]

Who's standing for Councillors on the New Tauranga City Council?
Does @MattKing @DemocracyNZ or @suegrey @FreedomOutdoorsParty & what about @LizGunn @NZLoyalParty have any Candidates Standing as Representatives of The PEOPLE of Tauranga City & District ??? A 4 Year Term could be a Great Chance for Change???

[@gregorymiller7828]

Ria