Local Choice
Andrew Pickford
ACT Local has selected Andrew Pickford — a former international airline captain who now runs a family farm and local businesses — as its candidate for the Tamahere-Woodlands Ward of the Waikato District Council in this year’s local election.
These days, he co-manages a sheep and beef farm and helps run two local franchise stores.
He’s also worked in project development, bringing practical experience in planning, logistics
22 June 2025 6pm
Mike Cater
Ian Hayton and Mike Cater have joined the Better Waipā ticket for the local body elections in October and will stand in the Cambridge ward.
The team now includes Hayton, Cater, Bernard Westerbaan, Hope Spooner and Andrew Bydder.
Ian Hayton
June 19, 2025
Stu Kneebone helping out on the Waikato Regional Council stand at Fieldays. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Whitehall farmer Stu Kneebone will seek a sixth term as one of two Waipā-King Country representatives on Waikato Regional Council.
He made the announcement at Fieldays last week saying his experience and understanding of what makes the regional council work was still needed.
He has been a Crown representative on the Waikato River Authority for five years which he now co-chairs with Danny Loughlin.
Kneebone is the second in the constituency to confirm he is standing. Current Waipā deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk announced she would stand and step down from the district council.
Clyde Graf, the current regional councillor, told The News in March he would not but in recent weeks he has been part of a block vote of councillors who fell out with chair Pamela Storey over her use of the casting vote.
Storey voted against reducing next year’s rates by 1.7 per cent and then used her casting vote when it was locked at 7-7 to defeat the motion.
Meanwhile some former Waipā District Council and community board representatives are having another go at elected office.
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- Stuart Hylton
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- Hope Spooner
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- Graham Jull
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- Dean Taylor
In Te Awamutu Graham Jull, who was on the council from 2004-2010 and is now a retired dental surgeon, says the council needs his experience and vision. Former Te Awamutu Courier editor Dean Taylor, who formerly chaired the Te Awamutu Community Board, will stand for council citing his extensive community experience.
They join Marcus Gower, Shane Walsh, Lou Brown and Bernard Westerbaan in declaring their intentions to The News for one of the three seats.
Claire St Pierre and Mike Montgomerie remain the only confirmed candidates in Pirongia-Kakepuku and Maungatautari.
Incumbents Ange Holt, Jill Taylor and John Wood are standing for Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board.
In Cambridge Jo Davies-Colley, Philip Coles, Roger Gordon, Hope Spooner, Stuart Hylton, Ian Hayton and Andrew Bydder have all said they are standing for one of the four seats in the Cambridge ward for council.
Andrew Myers is the only one confirmed for the Cambridge Community Board. He will restand as the Maungatautari representative.
- Are you standing? Let us know [email protected] and send us a high resolution photo of yourself.
Local Choice
