Dunedin City Council
Native nameKaunihera ā-Rohe o Ōtepoti
JurisdictionDunedin
Foundation6 March 1989
MayorSophie Barker[1]
Party 1Independent
Election 1October 2025
Deputy MayorCherry Lucas
Party 2Independent
Chief Executive OfficerSandy Graham
Election 312 October 2020
Members15[a]
Political groups 1
Term length3 years
Voting system 1Single Transferable Vote
Last election 111 October 2025
Next election 1October 2028
Session room26 Dunedin Town Hall at the Octagon square, Dunedin, New Zealand.JPG
Meeting placeDunedin Town Hall, The Octagon
Websitedunedin.govt.nz

The Dunedin City Council (Māori: Kaunihera ā-Rohe o Ōtepoti) is the local government authority for Dunedin in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority elected to represent the people of Dunedin. Since October 2025, the Mayor of Dunedin is Sophie Barker, who succeeded Jules Radich. The council consists of a mayor who is elected at large, and 14 councillors elected at large, one of whom gets chosen as deputy-mayor. The councillors are elected under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system in triennial elections, with the most recent election held on 11 October 2025.[2]

Composition

2025–2028

See also: 2025 Dunedin City Council election, 2025 Dunedin mayoral election and 2026 Dunedin City Council by-election

The initial composition of the council for the 2025–2028 term was as follows.[3] Councillor Jules Radich died on 4 January 2026.[4]

NamePositionAffiliation
Sophie BarkerMayorIndependent
Cherry LucasDeputy Mayor[5]Independent
Andrew SimmsCouncillorFuture Dunedin
Lee VandervisCouncillorIndependent
Jules RadichCouncillorIndependent
Marie LaufisoCouncillorBuilding Kotahitaka
John ChambersCouncillorYour Health Candidate
Russell LundCouncillorIndependent
Brent WeatherallCouncillorIndependent
Steve WalkerCouncillorLabour
Mickey TreadwellCouncillorGreen
Mandy MayhemCouncillorIndependent
Benedict OngCouncillorIndependent
Christine GareyCouncillorIndependent
Doug HallCouncillorIndependent

2022–2025

See also: 2022 Dunedin City Council election and 2022 Dunedin mayoral election

During the 2022–2025 term the composition of the council was as follows:

NamePositionAffiliation
Jules RadichMayorTeam Dunedin
Cherry LucasDeputy MayorIndependent
Bill AcklinCouncillorIndependent
Sophie BarkerCouncillorIndependent
David Benson-PopeCouncillorIndependent
Christine GareyCouncillorIndependent
Kevin GilbertCouncillorTeam Dunedin
Carmen HoulahanCouncillorIndependent
Marie LaufisoCouncillorIndependent[b]
Jim O'MalleyCouncillorIndependent
Mandy Mayhem-BullockCouncillorIndependent
Lee VandervisCouncillorIndependent
Steve WalkerCouncillorLabour
Brent WeatherallCouncillorTeam Dunedin
Andrew WhileyCouncillorTeam Dunedin

2019–2022

See also: 2019 Dunedin mayoral election

During the 2019–2022 term the composition of the Council was as follows:

NameAffiliation
Aaron Hawkins (Mayor)Green Dunedin
Christine Garey (Deputy Mayor)Independent
Sophie BarkerIndependent
David Benson-PopeIndependent
Rachel ElderIndependent
Doug HallIndependent
Carmen HoulahanIndependent
Marie LaufisoGreen Dunedin
Mike LordIndependent
Jim O'MalleyIndependent
Jules RadichIndependent
Chris StaynesIndependent
Lee VandervisIndependent
Steve WalkerLabour
Andrew WhileyIndependent

2016–2019

See also: 2016 Dunedin mayoral election

During the 2016–2019 term the composition of the Council was as follows:[6]

NameAffiliation
David Cull (Mayor)Independent
Lee VandervisIndependent
Andrew WhileyIndependent
Aaron HawkinsGreen Dunedin
David Benson-PopeIndependent
Chris Staynes (Deputy Mayor)Independent
Conrad StedmanIndependent
Doug HallIndependent
Rachel ElderIndependent
Jim O'MalleyIndependent
Kate WilsonIndependent
Mike LordIndependent
Damian NewellIndependent
Marie LaufisoGreen Dunedin
Christine GareyIndependent

2013–2016

See also: 2013 Dunedin mayoral election

During the 2013–2016 term, the composition of the Council was as follows:[7]

MayorDave Cull
Councillors – Central WardHilary Calvert
Richard Thompson
Lee Vandervis
Jinty MacTavish
David Benson-Pope
Aaron Hawkins
Chris Staynes
Neville Peat
Doug Hall
John Bezett
Andrew Whiley
Councillors – Mosgiel-Taieri wardKate Wilson
Mike Lord
Councillor – Waikouaiti Coast-Chalmers wardAndrew Noone

2010–2013

See also: 2010 Dunedin local elections and 2010 Dunedin mayoral election

During the 2010–2013 term, the composition of the Council was as follows:

MayorDave Cull
Councillors – Central WardBill Acklin
John Bezett
Fliss Butcher
Neil Collins
Paul Hudson
Jinty MacTavish
Chris Staynes
Teresa Stevenson
Richard Thompson
Lee Vandervis
Colin Weatherall
Councillors – Mosgiel-Taieri wardSyd Brown
Kate Wilson
Councillor – Waikouaiti Coast-Chalmers wardAndrew Noone

Community boards

The council has created six local community boards under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002,[8] each with six elected members and one councillor appointed by the council:

These community boards are intended to provide advice to the city council regarding the interests of the communities they represent.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Includes Mayor
  2. ^ Previously a member of Green Dunedin.[10]

References

  1. ^ "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result". Electionz. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  2. ^ "2025 election results". Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  3. ^ https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2025-election-results
  4. ^ Miller, Grant & Shaw, Ruby (4 January 2026). "Former Dunedin mayor Jules Radich dies". Otago Daily Times. Archived 4 January 2026 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  5. ^ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/575796/sophie-barker-choses-dunedin-deputy-mayor-meeting-with-councillors-already
  6. ^ "2016 – Dunedin City Council Final Results and Returns of Electoral Donations and Expenses". Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  7. ^ "Dunedin City Council Final Results". Dunedin City Council. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  8. ^ "Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 01 July 2017)" (in en-NZ). www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Community boards". Dunedin City Council. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  10. ^ John, Mark (29 July 2024). "Laufiso resigns from Green Party over Tana issue". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 29 July 2024.