2022 Invercargill mayoral election

The 2022 Invercargill mayoral election will take place in October 2022 as part of the New Zealand local elections. Incumbent mayor Tim Shadbolt intends to run for a tenth term.[1]

2022 Invercargill mayoral election
October 2022
 
Candidate Tim Shadbolt Gary Tong
Party Independent Independent
Incumbent Mayor

Tim Shadbolt

Background

In May 2021, former councillor and 2013 mayoral candidate Lindsay Dow began forming a coalition to defeat Shadbolt.[2] This followed a scandal wherein Shadbolt's driving licence was suspended and deputy mayor Nobby Clark criticized him for not being forthcoming about the reason. Shadbolt has had a history of contentious relationships with his deputy mayors,[3][4][5][6] even making reference to Brutus on two occasions.[7]

Several councillors have expressed concern about Shadbolt's ability to perform his job.[1] An independent report into council dysfunction in November 2020 found Shadbolt's lack of leadership as a key factor. Shadbolt publicly rubbished the report, despite earlier having voted with the council to accept the findings.[8] A follow-up report released in September 2021 noted overall improvement in the council but still dubbed Shadbolt "an unavoidable and inconvenient distraction".[9] An informal poll conducted by the Otago Daily Times in August 2021 found that 82% of respondents felt it was time for Shadbolt to resign.[10]

Gary Tong, the Mayor of Southland District, announced his candidacy on 28 October 2021, having decided to run about a year prior. He had informed Shadbolt of his intentions in September.[11]

Candidates

Declared candidates

Potential candidates
  • Rebecca Amundsen, Invercargill City Councillor, former Deputy Mayor of Invercargill, 2019 mayoral candidate[12]
  • Allan Arnold, Invercargill City Councillor[12]
  • Alex Crackett, Invercargill City Councillor[12]
  • Darren Ludlow, Invercargill City Councillor, former Deputy Mayor of Invercargill, 2019 mayoral candidate[12]
  • Marcus Lush, Invercargill City Councillor and radio presenter[12]
  • Ian Pottinger, Invercargill City Councillor[12]
  • Nigel Skelt, Invercargill City Councillor[12]

Declined to be candidates
  • Lindsay Abbott, Invercargill City Councillor[12]
  • Nobby Clark, incumbent Deputy Mayor[14]
  • Peter Kett, Invercargill City Councillor[12]
  • Graham Lewis, Invercargill City Councillor[12]
  • Lesley Soper, Invercargill City Councillor and former Labour list MP[12]


References
  1. Harding, Evan (13 October 2020). "More councillors call for 'tired' Sir Tim Shadbolt to retire". Stuff.co.nz.
  2. Savory, Logan (28 May 2021). "Group of Invercargill residents to unite in push for a new mayor". Stuff.co.nz.
  3. Fallow, Michael (6 May 2017). "Shadbolt's great southern deputy dustups, to date . . ". Stuff.co.nz.
  4. Harding, Evan; Woolf, Amber-Leigh (9 August 2019). "Revealed: Why Shadbolt wanted Ludlow out of deputy mayor's job". Stuff.co.nz.
  5. Harding, Evan (27 June 2019). "Mayor Tim Shadbolt's feud with deputy mayor intensifies". Stuff.co.nz.
  6. Savory, Logan (28 May 2020). "Mayor Tim Shadbolt says he no longer trusts his deputy Toni Biddle". Stuff.co.nz.
  7. "Shadbolt labels deputy mayor Brutus". Stuff.co.nz. 20 May 2021.
  8. Savory, Logan (23 November 2020). "Review says Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt struggling to fulfil job". Stuff.co.nz.
  9. Savory, Logan (6 September 2021). "Independent review: Shadbolt 'unavoidable and inconvenient' distraction". Stuff.co.nz.
  10. Rosenberg, Matthew (17 August 2021). "Council intercept of Shadbolt email". Otago Daily Times.
  11. Savory, Logan (28 October 2021). "Southland District Mayor Gary Tong to run against Sir Tim Shadbolt at next election". Stuff.co.nz.
  12. Girao, Luisa (2 November 2021). "Possible mayoral hopefuls still mulling next moves". Otago Daily Times.
  13. Rosenberg, Matthew (10 December 2021). "Move over Tim Shadbolt? Meet the wizard hoping to be Invercargill's next mayor". New Zealand Herald.
  14. "Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, deputy Nobby Clark haven't talked in weeks". New Zealand Herald. 27 May 2021.
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