With final the results now declared from the New Plymouth District Council local body election, we know for certain who will be sitting around the Council table at the first meeting set for October 31st.
There are eight newly-elected councillors this term. Here’s a short overview for each, including who they are and what they stand for. This is based on publicly available information provided from the candidates themselves on the NPDC “Vote 2025 – Know Your Candidates” website:
District Wide
John Woodward
A multi-generational local, former frontline police officer (with a bravery award) and business operator in transport, retail and heavy-vehicle training, John Woodward pitches straight talk and practical, common-sense decision-making. He wants tighter budgeting, less waste and local contracts for local businesses, with non-essential projects paused to ease pressure on rates.
Woodward says NPDC must be “open for business” beyond oil and gas – attracting investment and fostering innovation. He backs a coordinated, long-term approach to rough sleeping with iwi, MSD and mental-health services; opposes a water/wastewater CCO, arguing public feedback was overlooked; supports NPDC doing more on climate through emissions reduction and sustainable projects; and opposes the $50m Sports Hub contribution. He’s critical of the current separated cycleway design and voted to remov the Māori ward (preferring no wards and stronger community boards).
Priorities: Reduce council debt and reduce rates while protecting essential services.
Kaitake–Ngāmotu Ward
Damon Fox
Born and raised in Taranaki, addictions practitioner Damon Fox campaigned as an ACT candidate on “common sense,” lower rates and core services. He argues ratepayers have been let down by double-digit hikes and rising debt, and wants to cut waste, streamline consents and end what he calls a “war on cars.”
Fox would review services to reduce costs, citing losses at the Len Lye Centre and opposing the $50m Sports Hub in a cost-of-living squeeze. He says the current approach to rough sleeping “enables” harm, opposes a water/wastewater CCO, and supports choosing greener options only when costs are equal. He wants to reverse the separated cycleway designs he says harms access and business, and voted to remove the Māori ward.
Priorities: Stop double-digit rates increases and reject what he views as divisive policies.
EJ Barrett
“Libraries, homes, communities” are the key messages for EJ Barrett’s platform. With experience in finance and facilitation, study in city design and resource management and advocacy in public transport and wellbeing, Barrett wants to unlock affordable housing by reducing consent fees for community providers and building where pipes and services already exist to ease rates pressure.
Barrett backs libraries and arts as economic multipliers, wants fewer barriers for non-profit housing near social services to reduce rough sleeping, and supports better public transport as climate action. They oppose the timing/scale of NPDC’s $50m contribution to the Sports Hub, and support separated cycleways if delivered far more cost-effectively. On the Māori ward, Barrett voted to keep – “Toitū Te Tiriti” – arguing accurate representation strengthens democracy.
Priorities: Save Our Libraries and House Our People.
Graham Chard
With Defence Force leadership, award-winning business experience and extensive community service, Graham Chard says NPDC needs sharper discipline: lower debt, better transparency and measurable value for every ratepayer dollar. He wants a full value-for-money review of services and immediate, practical action on rough sleeping’s most serious impacts.
Chard opposes a water/wastewater CCO, preferring assets safeguarded in a trust and in-house delivery, and supports climate adaptation but not council spending on emissions-reduction initiatives. He opposed the $50m Sports Hub contribution and further separated cycleways, calling current examples poorly executed. He voted to keep the Māori ward while noting he doesn’t favour separate wards in principle.
Priorities: Shift from borrowing to debt reduction, overhaul contracts and spending oversight.
Kerry Vosseler
A third-generation business owner who ran Chaos Café for two decades, Kerry Vosseler framed her campaign around financial prudence and “ratepayers first.” She wants to rein in spending, refocus on maintaining community facilities and prioritise local businesses, pausing costly initiatives until value is proven.
Vosseler would halt the Sports Hub and the Waitara cycleway to reassess benefits, explore merging services to cut costs, and foster a business-friendly district with mentoring from proven operators. She opposes moving water and wastewater to a CCO, is sceptical of council-led climate initiatives beyond keeping waterways clear and limiting impermeable surfaces, and opposes more separated cycleways. She voted to remove the Māori ward.
Priorities: Cap/reduce rates, attract business and halt expensive projects.
Moira George
After four terms on the Taranaki Regional Council and governance roles in public and private health, Moira George promises common sense, accountability and financial discipline. She wants council to excel at “the boring stuff” first – roads, facilities, rubbish and clean water, so ratepayers see clear value for every dollar.
George backs a more active NPDC role post–oil and gas (infrastructure investment, faster consents, worker retraining, business incentives and promotion). She wants consistent enforcement of bylaws around rough sleeping, opposes a water/wastewater CCO in favour of direct council control, and does not support additional council-driven climate projects given NPDC’s scale. She opposed the $50m Sports Hub contribution and says now isn’t the time for more separated cycleways. She voted to remove the Māori ward.
Priorities: Cap rates to inflation for three years and an immediate Long-Term Plan review to trim non-essential capital spending.
North General Ward
Gina Blackburn
Born in Waitara and now based in Urenui, Gina Blackburn says she’ll represent the North’s rural, coastal and township communities with fairness, transparency and integrity. With a business background, she stresses value for money, open communication and long-term sustainability, bridging what she sees as a growing gap between urban and rural priorities.
Blackburn supports reviewing services to ease rates, opposes the $50m Sports Hub in favour of grassroots investments and is sceptical of further separated cycleways due to ongoing costs and limited benefit. She backs growing new industries, supporting local entrepreneurs and investing in skills and infrastructure through the transition from oil and gas. She supports partnerships to reduce rough sleeping, would only back a water/wastewater CCO if it’s cheaper, improves service and preserves strong local oversight, and wants stronger climate adaptation, education and resilient infrastructure. She voted to keep the Māori ward (“No Stress, Vote YES”).
Priorities: Essential services across ages and disciplined financial management.
Kōhanga Moa Ward
Christine Fabish
An Inglewood local of 51+ years, Christine Fabish has a background spanning lab work, hospitality and the rural sector, and served five years on the Inglewood Community Board (last term as Chair). Active on the Hall Committee and Inglewood First Trust, she wants Inglewood’s profile kept high at the council table and a focus on core infrastructure “above and below ground.”
Fabish opposes cutting NPDC services to trim rates, preferring tighter cost control and stronger contract management. She wants Venture Taranaki to lead economic diversification, supports the current rough-sleeping partnership model, and rejects a water/wastewater CCO in favour of NPDC retaining responsibility. Sceptical of extra council-led climate initiatives, she opposed the $50m Sports Hub and further separated cycleways (preferring wider footpaths). On the Māori ward poll she voted to remove, noting iwi/hapū input via Te Huinga Taumatua.
Priorities: Rigorous contracting and disciplined spending.
Click here to view our article with the final results:
