Wairoa Mayor Craig Little was re-elected with 1635 votes. He was ahead of other mayoral candidates, Denise Eaglesome-Karekare, 1287 votes, Kurawari Panere, 146 votes and Camden Gaskin, 86 votes.

This is Mayor Little’s fifth term in the top role and sixth term on the Council. Being elected as a fifth-term Mayor is a new record for the Wairoa District Council, with other long-serving mayors only ever having completed four terms.

Joining Mayor Little, the new 2025 Council comprises Jeremy Harker, Roz Thomas, Sara Bird, Trevor Waikawa, Benita Cairns and Michelle Tahuri.

Mayor Little said that after speaking with elected members and receiving unanimous support, it is his intention to announce that Benita Cairns will be appointed as Deputy Mayor. This will become official after the swearing-in ceremony.

“Benita is experienced and always represents the voice of the people, and I am confident she is well-suited to this position.”

Wairoa’s new district council has met informally ahead of the official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for October 28.

The elected members spoke of the honour and privilege of being elected, as well as their sense of community and connectivity with one another.

They emphasised the importance of inclusiveness and the need for the Council and community to work together as one.

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Matt Lawson said he is excited by the talent of the new Council. He said a strength of the Wairoa District Council elected members has been that councillors have been connected to the community and have the interests of the community 100% at heart. “I feel Wairoa is on the cusp of exciting times with positive opportunities ahead of us, and I look forward to working with the new Council for the benefit of our district.”

Caption: Pictured are the new 2025 Wairoa District Council elected members, from left, Jeremy Harker, Roz Thomas, Mayor Craig Little, Sara Bird, Deputy Mayor Benita Cairns, Trevor Waikawa and Michelle Tahuri.

18 October 2025

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