Former Labour leader Andrew Little ‘actively considering’ Wellington mayoralty bid

• Former Labour leader Andrew Little is considering running for Wellington Mayor.
• Little previously ruled it out but now says the city needs a change.
• Confirmed candidates include Tory Whanau, Ray Chung, Karl Tiefenbacher, Kelvin Hastie, Graham Bloxham and Rob Goulden.

Former Labour leader Andrew Little has confirmed he is considering a tilt at the Wellington mayoralty.

It was reported in December that Little had ruled it out.

Since then, Labour has struggled to find a candidate after no one put their name forward. It extended nominations, which close later this month.

Little retired from politics in 2023 but now says he's considering a tilt at the Wellington mayoralty. Photo / Mark Mitchell

“I’m actively considering it,” Little told the Herald in a statement.

“The city needs change and I have been approached by a wide range of people asking me to run.”

“I’ll have more to say at a later date,” he said.

He entered Parliament in 2011 and was leader of the Labour Party and leader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2017.

Little was a senior minister under former Prime Ministers Dame Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins.

He works as a consultant at Wellington legal firm Gibson Sheat Lawyers.

Andrew Little says he's been approached by a wide range of people to run for the city's top job. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Little lives in Island Bay with his family.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who worked with Little in Government between 2017 and 2020, said he was “interested to hear that”.

”Andrew certainly has his strong points. He is a whole lot more sane and rational than what they have got there now.”

Peters reckoned Little would beat Whanau, but wouldn’t provide an endorsement.

Who’s running for the mayoralty?

The confirmed candidates for the mayoralty are incumbent Tory Whanau, city councillor Ray Chung, businessman Karl Tiefenbacher, conservationist Kelvin Hastie, Wellington Live owner Graham Bloxham and former city councillor Rob Goulden.

Whanau yesterday secured the Green Party’s endorsement.

Responding on Instagram to the news Little is considering running, Whanau said Wellingtonians “need continuity right now”.

“Having several candidates for the mayoralty is good for democracy. I also respect Andrew Little from my time in Parliament, especially when he stepped aside as leader for the Labour Party.

“However, to keep up momentum toward a future-focused city, I am the best candidate for the role.”

Whanau has always maintained she intended to run for three terms of the mayoralty.

The Wellington branch of the Labour Party has confirmed it’s been struggling to find a candidate to challenge Whanau for the capital’s mayoralty.

Hipkins, the Labour Party leader, told Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills last month that while he isn’t actively engaged in Labour’s hunt for a candidate, he thinks the city needs “a really good shake-up”.

He said he’s open to talking to anyone who is keen to do that and would potentially endorse an independent candidate for the job.

Asked whether a Labour candidate could win, given the recent success of Green Party candidates in Wellington elections, Hipkins doubted the Greens would retain the same level of success.

“That may have been the case at the last election, I’m not sure that’s the case right now,” he said.

Former Wellington Mayor Justin Lester was earlier this year floated as a potential contender after refusing to rule out a bid.

Lester said while he doesn’t intend to run, Labour has approached him about his potential candidacy and he’d “never say never”.

Other rumoured candidates include current City Councillor Diane Calvert who has previously run for the job. Calvert describes herself as a moderate and has been vocal in her opposition to Whanau this term.

Prominent former broadcaster Mark Sainsbury has also been said to be considering a run. He recently told Newstalk ZB’s Nick Mills while he would love to do it, he doesn’t believe he’s fully qualified. Sainsbury has not ruled it out when asked.

The local election will be held on October 11.

The council’s candidate nominations open on July 4 and close on August 1.

Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.