‘Wow, that much!’: Landslide victory for re-elected mayor Phil Mauger
Saturday, 11 October 2025
Phil Mauger’s neighbour has renamed their shared driveway “Sir Philip Mauger Drive” in honour of his re-election as Christchurch’s mayor.
Mauger has been re-elected with a convincing majority of almost 20,000 votes - and says he is “up for the challenge” of a second term.
Progress results show Mauger received 54,644 votes. His nearest rival, Sara Templeton, received 34,726 votes. She did not stand as a councillor or for a community board, so is now out of Christchurch City Council.
At his Avonhead home, where a cardboard sign now welcomes visitors to “Sir Philip Mauger Drive”, Mauger expressed surprise at the size of his majority.
When Christchurch City Council chief executive Mary Richardson called him with the news, he said he was thinking, “Wow, that much?”
“20,000 is quite a big number so I’m very happy, very happy indeed,” he told The Press.
The next highest polling mayoral candidate was Thomas Healey, who received 1547 votes.
Mauger also thanked everyone who voted for him.
“I am really looking forward to getting stuck in for another three years … let’s keep the momentum going.”
However, as all sitting councillors were re-elected, the 67-year-old has found himself once again leading a left-leaning council and struggling to get many of his plans across the line.
Nathaniel Herz Jardine, of the left-leaning People’s Choice grouping, won in Heathcote, and David Cartwright, of right-leaning Independent Citizens, won the Fendalton ward.
The Heathcote seat had been left vacant as Templeton decided to only stand for the mayoralty, while Fendalton was empty after James Gough decided to run only for the community board.
Mauger said while the political make-up of the council was almost identical to last term, it did not matter.
“I will work with anyone. It’s the mayor’s job. I’ve had a bit of practice and I will make sure we are pulling the rope in the right direction, as I normally say.”
In a statement soon after the announcement, Templeton thanked her supporters, volunteers and voters.
“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 she always knew it would be a tough ask to beat an incumbent mayor, but it was important that residents had a real choice.
“We focused on the issues that matter: fixing infrastructure, building strong communities, and creating a fairer, greener, more connected and resilient city ready to face the challenges ahead.”
Templeton said her time on council, representing the Heathcote ward since 2013, had been one of the most rewarding and motivating chapters of her life.
She extended her best wishes to Mauger and the incoming council for the next term.
“All the very best to Phil and the councillors as they continue the work of building a great city for everyone.”
Mauger said he had talked to Templeton on Saturday and said he was sorry she did not win.
“It was a good, fair competition, I thought. We didn’t really get massively offside with each other on anything,” Mauger said.
The votes counted so far do not include those submitted on Saturday or special votes. Preliminary votes will be released by Sunday afternoon, but will not include special votes. Final results will be known by Thursday.
Mauger has attempted to lead a positive campaign - the city is humming and he was keen to keep that momentum going.
However, Mauger’s team, including close ally Sam MacDonald, was accused of running an “attack-style” campaign against Templeton since she announced she was standing a year ago.
Coverage of results across the South Island are published here throughout the day.