In 2022, the small rural township had one of the highest voting rates in the country, on a par with this year’s, at 43.6%.
Wairoa is also the only council in Hawke’s Bay that is not a part of the nationwide Māori ward referendum.
The council in 2019 became the first in New Zealand with a specific Māori ward, as a result of a poll at the local elections three years earlier.
This means it has already conducted a referendum on its wards and therefore does not need to do so again.
Mayoral candidates
Denise Eaglesome-Karekare 965
Camden Gaskin 74
Craig Little 1300
Kurawari Panere 108
General Ward (three seats)
Sara Bird 564
Amber Forrest 451
Camden Gaskin 84
Jeremy Harker 985
Stuart Harris 212
Sam Jackman 412
John Malis 218
Roz Thomas 667
Veronica Tukaki 311
Maori Ward (three seats)
Benita Cairns 545
Puti Cook 141
Marino Harker-Smith 106
Katarina Kawana 317
Kurawari Panere 153
Michelle Tahuri 412
Ally Tipu 126
Trevor Waikawa 612
Esta Wainohu 307
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.