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"Lets keep the momentum going": Phil Mauger keeps his mayor seat

Politics

Reuben Smith
phil&chrissy mauger
Phil Mauger was celebrating his win at home with wife Chrissy on Saturday.  Reuben Smith/NZBS

Community involvement and getting stuck in - that's what Phil Mauger reckons secured him a second term as Christchurch's mayor.

Mauger won by a significant margin. The current count has him with 54,644 votes, a majority of almost 20,000. His nearest rival, Sara Templeton, received 34,726 votes.

On his Facebook page, he posted a video of him receiving a phone call hearing the news.

"Thank you to everyone who voted for me - returning me as Mayor of Christchurch. I am really looking forward to getting stuck in for another three years….let’s keep the momentum going."

This will be his second consecutive term as mayor. Key campaign issues this time round for Mauger were future-proofing water infrastructure, protecting the environment and ensuring key infrastructure upgrades like Te Kaha stadium remain on track. 

In an interview with MetroNews, he said community involvement and getting stuck in were what got him the win. "I see a broken water main or something that's not quite right with roads or pipes and things. I like to put my five bobs in." 

Reuben Smith & Aleksandra Bogdanova / NZBS

For Christchurch's big issues, Mauger wants to keep the ball rolling with futureproofing his city.

"We've got so many people coming down from the North Island with new stadiums and swimming pools opening. Christchurch is on the rise, I don't want to lose that momentum."

He says he wants to advocate for Ōtautahi on a national stage.

"I like to get out of the office and meet as many people as I can. I have no hesitation in going to Wellington and meeting MPs."

Mauger was previously the director of Mauger Contracting, an earthmoving and construction company operating in Christchurch since 1970.

He says he's taking to the local pub tonight to celebrate.

Sara Templeton, his rival and current Heathcote councillor, posted on social media, wishing Mauger all the best and thanking volunteers and supporters of her campaign.

"While today’s result wasn’t what we hoped for, I’m deeply proud of the positive, future-focused campaign we ran and so grateful to everyone who believed in a better future for our city," she said.

phil mauger portrait2025
Mauger won by a significant margin against Heathcote councillor Sara Templeton Reuben Smith/NZBS

The person with the third largest number of votes is self-employed gardener Thomas Healey, receiving 1547 votes.

Out of 13 wards up for grabs, all 11 incumbents who ran again retained their seats. With Nathaniel Herz Jardine winning in Heathcote and David Cartwright in Fendalton.
  • In the Banks Peninsula ward, Tyrone Fields won the seat with 2649 votes
  • In the Burwood ward, Kelly Barber won the seat with 4925 votes
  • In the Cashmere ward, Tim Scandrett won the seat with 5076 votes
  • In the Central ward, Jake McLellan won the seat with 1634 votes
  • In the Coastal ward, Celeste Donovan won the seat with 4155  votes
  • In the Fendalton ward, David Cartwright won the seat with 4707 votes
  • In the Halswell ward, Andrei Moore won the seat with 6691 votes
  • In the Heathcote ward, Nathaniel Herz Jardine won the seat with 4486 votes
  • In the Innes ward, Pauline Cotter won the seat with 2873  votes
  • In the Linwood ward, Yani Johanson won the seat with 3290 votes
  • In the Papanui ward, Victoria Henstock won the seat with 3991 votes
  • In the Riccarton, Tyla Harrison-Hunt won the seat with 1431 votes
  • In the Spreydon ward, Melanie Coker won the seat with 3733 votes

Brand new Heathcote councillor Nathaniel Herz Jardine says he's elated and relieved by the result.

"I'm just hanging out here with some friends, celebrating with some beers," he says.

He thanks his supporters and volunteers on his campaigns, saying he plans to hit the ground running with understanding council processes and his big campaign issues in his first days as councillor.

Big issues he's campaigned for are keeping rates down, not selling off council investments and restoring abandoned shopfronts and houses in the area. He hopes his competitor, lawyer Ian Kearney, will remain a strong voice in the community.

David Cartwright, Fendalton's brand new councillor, says he is incredibly excited and a little bit nervous about his win.

He says he was out painting the fence when he heard the news.

"I wasn't expecting the results this soon," he says.

He puts down his community board experience and his roles as a JP and business owner as key reasons for his win.

"We've got to get up to speed and get an understanding of how we're going to work together," he says in regard to day one at the council table.

"Christchurch is in a unique position for moving forward."

He congratulated his Fendalton competition Xavier Dickason and Diane Ellis on their campaigns.