Little (Photo/Supplied)
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.
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“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
