She believed the results showed it connected with voters.<\/p>\n
Margaret Murray-Benge ran for mayor and a seat in the Kaimai ward for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council 2025 election.<\/p>\n
Murray-Benge said she invested in a professional campaign team to help sharpen her message and improve her social media presence, including on Facebook.<\/p>\n
In one video, she \u201canswered some of the things people have been saying about me\u201d: \u201cAm I racist? Am I too old? Am I Don Brash in drag?\u201d <\/p>\n
Murray-Benge told Local Democracy Reporting that campaigns used to be \u201cmore traditional \u2013 meetings, flyers, word of mouth\u201d.<\/p>\n
She said the issues the region was facing were \u201cfar more complex and serious now\u201d, and she felt a responsibility to communicate properly.<\/p>\n
Having support allowed her to stay \u201cfocused on the issues\u201d, such as rates increases, while sharing clear and accessible information with the community.<\/p>\n
She said this strategy added to her campaign costs, but she had a budget and knew what she was prepared to invest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no regrets, and it was money well spent.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said she wanted to keep improving her communications, to help residents understand the decisions being made on their behalf.<\/p>\n
Other expenses included brochures, a car wrap, signs, newspaper advertisements and social media advertising.<\/p>\n
The next two biggest election expense bills also belonged to mayoral candidates who missed out on the top job.<\/p>\n
Rodney Joyce spent $10,828.54 and was elected to the Katikati-Waih\u012b ward.<\/p>\n
Former council chief executive John Holyoake spent $9200.<\/p>\n
At least 21 candidates did not declare any spending on their campaign.<\/p>\n
Denyer declared the fourth-highest amount of spending on his campaign, at $6579.62. He received 4424 votes.<\/p>\n
James Denyer was re-elected as the Western Bay of Plenty Mayor. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n
\u201cI spent what I felt was necessary to reach the electorate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m happy with the result and was very pleased to have been returned as mayor.\u201d<\/p>\n
Denyer\u2019s expenses included advertising in newspapers and on Facebook, billboards, posters and marketing support.<\/p>\n
Local elections have spending limits for candidates based on population.<\/p>\n
According to the 2025 Local Government Elections candidate handbook, the Western Bay of Plenty district had 60,790 residents, and mayoral candidates could spend up to $40,000.<\/p>\n
The highest limit for ward candidates was $20,000 in Kaimai, with the highest community board limit being $14,000 for Katikati and Te Puke.<\/p>\n
Each candidate was required to keep a record of all campaign expenses and submit a return to the Electoral Officer within 55 days of the election result being declared in October.<\/p>\n
Manvir Singh Mann ran for election for the first time last year.<\/p>\n
This election was Manvir Singh Mann\u2019s first time running in an election, winning one of the two jobs he stood for.<\/p>\n
He was elected unopposed to the Eastern Community Board Subdivision, but missed out on a Maketu-Te Puke ward councillor role.<\/p>\n
Mann said the experience was \u201ca bit of a buzz\u201d and there had been a lot to learn.<\/p>\n
He made a plan to get out door-knocking around his community to meet as many people as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was still a stranger to most people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mann spent $4262.50 on his campaign, using the money for signs, newspaper advertisements and flyers.<\/p>\n
He said he drafted his budget after assessing prices and figured out what his target demographic was.<\/p>\n
He said the older population tended to be more likely to vote, so he spent his budget on advertising to reach retirement villages and aged-care homes.<\/p>\n
Due to his focus on the older population, he said, he did not worry about social media as much.<\/p>\n
He started a Facebook page, but put his energy towards printed and dispersed advertising.<\/p>\n
Despite missing out on the councillor seat, he believed his 1025 votes were \u201cpretty good for a first timer\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u2013 LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.<\/p>\n