A late surge in nominations – many of them openly critical of the council – has set the stage for a fiery election campaign in Waipā.
Yvonne Waho – 2025
Most of the action is expected in the eastern part of the district, where 14 candidates are contesting four council seats in the Cambridge ward, and 12 challenging for four spots on the community board.
Maungatautari’s Mike Montgomerie will watch it unfold from the comfort of his armchair, having been elected unopposed. Kane Titchener also secured his seat in the Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board’s Kakepuku constituency with no competition.
In a dramatic twist, Yvonne Waho submitted a last-minute nomination for the Māori ward after noticing no one else was standing – only for incumbent Dale-Maree Morgan to file her nomination. The result: a two-way contest in a ward facing the axe.
Dale-Maree Morgan – 2025
Morgan is also standing for Waikato District Council’s Ngāruawāhia Community Board.
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi is expected to be more subdued, with seven candidates – six men and one woman – competing for three council seats. On the community board side, three newcomers – including a young Kihikihi candidate – will battle three incumbents for the four seats.
The response to The News’ request for further information from candidates has been outstanding and appears in this edition of The News.
Roy Pilott
Adding fuel to the fire, Waipā District Council promoted itself as the go-to source for election updates, claiming it would offer “the inside scoop”.
Good Local Media editor Roy Pilott said the claim showed naivety and a desire to overshadow The News.
“The council is running the election. It is privy to all information about it – to trumpet itself in the form of a competitive media and declare it will be providing “an inside scoop” is stupid and an insult to the electorate,” he said.
On your marks, get set …. go. Photo: Andrea Piacquadio pexels.com
