Andrew Little today announced he will stand for Mayor of Wellington in the 2025 local elections.

“I’m standing for Mayor because Wellington needs urgent change and serious leadership. I believe I have the experience and the steel to end the chaos at Council and return it to what it should be doing, servicing the needs of all who live here.

“We all love this city. We’re creative, we’re full of talent, we’re diverse, and we’re a place where people from all walks of life can feel included and make a home.

“Wellington is the place I chose with my wife Leigh to raise our family and there’s nowhere else we would rather be.

“But it’s clear to me our city is in trouble. Living in Wellington is becoming unaffordable for working families. Cuts to public services are hurting the city and in a time of crisis our council too often seems like it’s out of touch with the people it’s supposed to serve.

“Wellington didn’t vote for regressive policies like asset sales, closure of community facilities or millions of dollars in corporate welfare for an international cinema owner. It’s time for new leadership that listens to Wellingtonians and makes good decisions for our city.

“I’ve spent my life standing up for people and bringing communities together. As a union leader I challenged big business to deliver a better deal for workers. As a Government Minister I led the response to the March 15 mosque attacks and worked alongside iwi to settle the Crown’s breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi.

“My focus as Mayor will be getting the best for Wellington. That means being able to work constructively with the Government in the city’s interests and it means standing up to the Beehive when needed. It means being clear in my Labour values but always working across political lines to be a Mayor for all of Wellington.

“My priorities are:

• Fixing the pipes and investing in our parks, swimming pools and libraries
   
• Prioritising more housing development and cheaper public transport
   
• Supporting our small businesses and revitalising Wellington’s economy
   
• Taking action on climate and honouring the Treaty
   
• Ensuring there is a firm grip on the Council and its finances.
   

“I firmly believe that together we can do this. I encourage Wellingtonians to join my campaign by volunteering or donating at www.andrewlittle.nz”

Andrew Little has submitted his nomination seeking the Wellington Labour Party’s support for his mayoral campaign.

A formal campaign launch will follow in the coming weeks.

Biographical notes:

• Andrew Little was born 7 May 1965 in New Plymouth, moving to the capital in 1983 to study law at Victoria University. He has lived most of his adult life in Wellington. He and wife Leigh have lived in Island Bay since 2005.
• Andrew has been married to Leigh since 2008. They have a son and share their home with Harry, a beloved Border Terrier.
• A former leader at both the Victoria University of Wellington Student’s Association (1987) and the NZUSA (1988-89), Andrew has devoted his career toward working people, firstly as an employment lawyer and progressing to a senior workers’ union official.
• He served as the high profile National Secretary of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (now E Tū), New Zealand’s largest private sector trade union, from 2000-11.
• Andrew was the President of the New Zealand Labour Party 2009-11 before he entered parliament in 2011, and was elected Leader of the Labour Party after the 2014 election. He resigned as leader in 2017, handing over to Jacinda Ardern.
• Entering Cabinet under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2017, Andrew held 12 ministerial portfolios: Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Justice, Courts, Pike River Re-entry, Security & Intelligence Service, the Government Communications Security Bureau, Health, Workplace Relations & Safety, Defence, Immigration, the Public Service and Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques.
• Andrew left parliament after the 2023 election, returning to his law career as a consultant with Wellington-based firm Gibson Sheat.

Authorised by Gerard O'Connell, 13 Rarangi Way, Wellington

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