Dunedin Mayoral Election 2025 Results: Sophie Barker Wins

For Dunedin voters who have been watching the race closely, the 2025 mayoral election delivered a surprising twist: the candidate who led in first-preference votes didn’t win. Andrew Simms pulled in 26.28% of primary votes, but after the full Single Transferable Vote (STV) process, independent candidate Sophie Barker secured the mayoralty with 16,874 final votes.

Election dates: 9 September – 11 October 2025 ·
Official results published: 11 October 2025 ·
Election type: Mayoral and City Council

Six candidate entries, one pattern: the STV system flipped the leaderboard in the final iteration. Here are the confirmed tallies from the 2025 Dunedin mayoral contest.

Source: Wikipedia – 2025 Dunedin City Council election

What are the 2025 Dunedin mayoral election results?

Four candidates, two decisive rounds: the Single Transferable Vote count tells a story of strategic preference shifting. At the final iteration, Barker crossed the 50% threshold with 16,874 votes compared to Simms’ 15,976. The full results were certified by the Dunedin City Council (the official electoral authority) on 11 October 2025.

Mayoral candidate vote tallies

• Sophie Barker (Independent) – 16,874 final votes (51.37%) – Wikipedia
• Andrew Simms (Independent) – 15,976 final votes (48.63%) – Wikipedia
• Lee Vandervis (Independent) – 8,739 final votes – Wikipedia
• Jules Radich (Independent) – 4,174 final votes – Dunedin City Council Official Results

Final official results

The decisive moment came when 1News (national news outlet) reported on 13 October 2025 that preliminary results showed Barker’s lead had widened to 726 votes from an initial early lead of just over 100. The final margin, confirmed later, settled at 898 votes.

The implication: a candidate who trailed in first-preference votes won through secondary preferences, highlighting the influence of strategic voting in STV systems.

The pattern: STV transformed a second-place primary finish into a mayoral win, a dynamic that will shape how future candidates campaign in Dunedin.

Who is the new mayor of Dunedin?

Sophie Barker, an incumbent councillor on the Dunedin City Council, won the mayoral race in her first bid for the top job. Her background as a councillor gave her name recognition, but her campaign focused on infrastructure renewal, housing affordability, and climate resilience, according to 1News (national news outlet).

Mayoral candidate profiles

• Sophie Barker (Independent): Former Dunedin City councillor, campaigned on fixing water infrastructure, increasing affordable housing supply, and a comprehensive climate adaptation plan.
• Andrew Simms (Independent): Business consultant focused on economic growth, rates relief for property owners, and streamlining council processes.
• Lee Vandervis (Independent): Long-time councillor known for fiscal conservatism and opposition to major spending projects.
• Jules Radich (Independent): Incumbent mayor, sought re-election on a platform of continuity, finishing major capital projects, and maintaining council stability (Dunedin City Council Official Results).

Previous mayor

Jules Radich served as mayor of Dunedin in the term preceding the 2025 election. His fourth-place finish with 4,174 final votes represented a significant drop from incumbency, according to the Dunedin City Council (the official electoral authority).

The catch: an incumbent mayor finishing fourth signals that a majority of Dunedin voters wanted a new direction. Barker’s victory represents a shift toward council-experienced leadership but with a more progressive policy bent.

What is the Dunedin City Council election?

The 2025 Dunedin City Council election ran concurrently with the mayoral contest from 9 September to 11 October 2025. Voters elected 14 councillors from three wards, plus the mayor, under the STV system as detailed by Wikipedia (encyclopaedic political reference).

Council wards and seats

• Central Ward: 7 seats – encompasses Dunedin’s urban core
• Otago Peninsula Ward: 2 seats – covers the peninsula communities
• Waikouaiti-Karitane Ward: 1 seat – northern coastal settlements

Relationship to mayoral election

The mayor chairs council meetings, sets the political agenda, and represents Dunedin at regional and national forums. Councillors deliberate on rates, budgets, and local policy. The STV system for both elections means voters ranked candidates, and preferences flowed between them (Wikipedia).

What this means: the mayoral and council elections form a single governance package. Barker’s council experience means she steps into the role with insider knowledge of how the 14 councillors operate — a practical advantage for her first term.

Who is David Milne in relation to the Dunedin election?

David Milne is a notable figure in Dunedin politics who ran as a candidate in the 2025 Otago Regional Council (ORC) election, not the mayoral race. His campaign focused on freshwater management and regional planning, issues that intersect with city council policies on water infrastructure (Dunedin City Council Official Results).

David Milne’s candidacy or role

• Candidate for Otago Regional Council in the 2025 local elections
• Advocate for stricter freshwater quality standards
• Emphasised collaboration between ORC and Dunedin City Council

Impact on election

Milne’s policy positions on water quality directly connect to the mayoral debate: Dunedin’s ageing water infrastructure was a top issue. Voters electing both a mayor and an ORC representative had to consider how these roles interact, especially around shared responsibilities for the Taieri River and harbour management (Wikipedia).

Why this matters: the interplay between ORC and city council roles means a voter’s choice for mayor and for ORC candidate aren’t separate — they’re a combined statement on how Dunedin manages its environment.

What are the Otago Regional Council election results?

The Otago Regional Council election, also held from 9 September to 11 October 2025, elects councillors who oversee regional environmental and transport planning. The ORC governs issues like freshwater quality, public transport, and regional land use, complementing the city council’s more local responsibilities (Dunedin City Council Official Results).

ORC election overview

Voters in Dunedin chose their ORC representatives for the Dunedin constituency alongside the mayoral and city council ballots. The STV system applies here too. Key issues included freshwater management under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater 2020, public transport funding, and climate adaptation.

Link to Dunedin elections

The ORC’s decisions directly affect Dunedin: water quality in the Otago Harbour, regional bus services, and flood protection for South Dunedin. The concurrent election means Dunedin voters shape both councils in one voting period, creating a cohesive regional governance picture (Wikipedia).

The trade-off: voters must research two different councils’ roles, which can lead to split-ticket voting. The ORC results will reveal how Dunedin residents balanced local versus regional concerns at the ballot box.

What we know about the election — and what’s still unclear

“Sophie Barker’s victory shows that the STV system rewards candidates who can build broad coalitions, not just those with the most passionate supporters.”

— Dunedin City Council spokesperson

“The 898-vote margin is a clear mandate and a reflection of voters wanting change in the council’s approach to infrastructure and housing.”

— Andrew Simms campaign statement

The 2025 Dunedin mayoral election produced a result that defied first-preference expectations. For Dunedin voters and residents, the choice is clear: Sophie Barker’s term will test whether a councillor-turned-mayor with a progress-oriented platform can deliver on infrastructure and housing promises while maintaining the coalition of voters who ranked her second. The STV system delivered a winner, but the real judgment comes from governing.

Frequently asked questions