Chris Hipkins says Andrew Little has his ‘full support’ for potential mayoral run
Hipkins told Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills he thinks Andrew Little would do a good job as mayor. Photo / Mark Mitchell
- Labour leader Chris Hipkins is supporting Andrew Little’s potential run for Wellington mayor, praising his leadership skills.
- Former Labour leader Andrew Little is considering running for Wellington mayoralty, saying the city needs a change.
- Current candidates include incumbent Tory Whanau, Ray Chung, Karl Tiefenbacher, Kelvin Hastie, Graham Bloxham and Rob Goulden.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has thrown his support behind Andrew Little as the former party leader mulls a run for the Wellington mayoralty.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills today, Hipkins said Little is a “top bloke” and would be a “very, very good option for Wellingtonians”.
“He’s both a leader and a capable manager and I think Wellington city needs both at the moment,” Hipkins said.
“No one can doubt Andrew’s left-wing credentials, he’s a true Labour Party stalwart.”
The Labour leader said he had a conversation with Little about the mayoralty a few weeks ago, but said he would not make any announcement on Little’s behalf.
He believes Little could “calm things down” and work with people from other political ideologies, which Hipkins said is what Wellington needs.
Asked if Labour would endorse Little, Hipkins said he’s a “very loyal member of the Labour Party and I think he’s got very, very strong support within the party”.
“He hasn’t sought that endorsement at this stage,” Hipkins said.
“If he decided to run he would have my full support.”
Little, the former Labour leader, yesterday confirmed to the Herald he is considering a tilt at the Wellington mayoralty.
It was reported in December that Little had ruled it out.
Since then, Labour has struggled to find a candidate after no one put their name forward. It extended nominations, which close later this month.
“I’m actively considering it,” Little said in a statement.
“The city needs change and I have been approached by a wide range of people asking me to run.
“I’ll have more to say at a later date.”
He entered Parliament in 2011 and was leader of the Labour Party and leader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2017.
Little was a senior minister under former Prime Ministers Dame Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins before leaving Parliament in 2023.
Little, who lives in Island Bay with his family, works as a consultant at Wellington legal firm Gibson Sheat Lawyers.
Labour’s Ginny Andersen this morning told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Little would “be pretty good” as Wellington mayor.
She said he would be a unifying force on the council.
“I think he’s quite level-headed and would be trusted as a good safe pair of hands just to get progress, and Wellington desperately needs it,” Andersen said.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who worked with Little in Government between 2017 and 2020, said he was “interested to hear that”.
”Andrew certainly has his strong points. He is a whole lot more sane and rational than what they have got there now.”
Peters reckoned Little would beat Whanau, but wouldn’t provide an endorsement.
Whanau yesterday secured the Green Party’s endorsement.
Responding on Instagram to the news Little is considering running, Whanau said Wellingtonians “need continuity right now”.
“Having several candidates for the mayoralty is good for democracy. I also respect Andrew Little from my time in Parliament, especially when he stepped aside as leader for the Labour Party.
“However, to keep up momentum toward a future-focused city, I am the best candidate for the role.”
Candidates who have confirmed plans to run for the mayoralty are Whanau, city councillor Ray Chung, businessman Karl Tiefenbacher, conservationist Kelvin Hastie, Wellington Live owner Graham Bloxham and former city councillor Rob Goulden.
The election will be held on October 11.
The council’s candidate nominations open on July 4 and close on August 1.
Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.