Team Dunedin is a local body ticket which contests local elections in Dunedin, New Zealand.[1]

Team Dunedin
LeaderJules Radich
Founded12 October 2021; 2 years ago (2021-10-12)
Headquarters8 Jones Street, Dunedin
Political positionCentre
Colours  Blue,   Yellow
Slogan"Welcoming, Vibrant, Sustainable"
Seats on the Dunedin City Council
4 / 15
Website
www.teamdunedin.org.nz

Leadership and policies edit

It is led by Jules Radich, the mayor of Dunedin.[2] Radich describes the ticket as centrist, encompassing ideas from both the left and right of politics.[1]

Team Dunedin campaign material promoted policies that were "welcoming, vibrant, and sustainable."[3] These included:

  • using participatory democracy to make decisions, rather than representative democracy;
  • ensuring older citizens' voices are heard in decision-making;
  • expanding the network of tracks and trails in the city;
  • upgrading existing playgrounds to have "destination" status;
  • retaining the existing one-way system along State Highway 1;
  • keeping Dunedin "open for business";
  • protecting the Esplanade in St Clair; and
  • conducting a safety audit of the city.

History edit

Team Dunedin was formed by Dunedin City councillor Jules Radich in October 2021 to contest the 2022 Dunedin mayoral and Dunedin City Council elections.[4] Radich described the council's leadership by the progressive, Green Party mayor Aaron Hawkins as "autocratic" and overly influenced by party politics to the point of ignoring residents' interests.[5] With Radich, incumbent councillors Andrew Whiley and Carmen Houlahan were founding members of the ticket.[4]

Other members of Team Dunedin included business owner Brent Weatherall, 2020 ACT Party candidate Callum Steele-MacIntosh, Otago Peninsula Community Board member and school teacher Cheryl Neill, baker Kevin Gilbert, real estate investor and former council staffer Lynette Scott, and restaurant proprietor Riah McLean.[1][3] Houlahan, who had been a founding member of Team Dunedin, withdrew in May 2022 to run against Radich for the mayoralty as an independent.[6] McLean withdrew her candidacy on 5 July 2022, leaving Team Dunedin with seven candidates.[7]

On 8 October, Radich was elected as Mayor of Dunedin, defeating Hawkins. Whiley, Weatherall and Gilbert were elected to the Council.[8][9]

Electoral results edit

Election Candidates nominated Seats won
Mayoral candidates Council candidates Mayoralty Council seats
2022 1/11 7/40
1 / 1
3 / 14

2022 Dunedin local elections edit

Candidate name Position contested Result of election

Jules Radich Mayor Elected

Brent Weatherall Councillor Elected

Andrew Whiley Councillor Elected

Kevin Gilbert Councillor Elected

Lynette Scott Councillor Not elected

Callum Steele Councillor Not elected

Cheryl May Neill Councillor Not elected

Jules Radich Councillor Withdrawn due to election as mayor

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Miller, Grant (4 June 2022). "Eight on 'Team Dunedin' ticket". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  2. ^ "New Dunedin mayor Jules Radich: Landslide results shows need for change in direction". Radio New Zealand. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Team Dunedin". Team Dunedin. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Miller, Grant (12 October 2021). "Radich launches Team Dunedin local body election bid". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  5. ^ Williams, David (2 October 2022). "Battle of narratives to win Dunedin's top job". Newsroom. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  6. ^ Miller, Grant (20 May 2022). "Houlahan leaves Team Dunedin to run as independent candidate". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Off Team Dunedin ticket". Otago Daily Times Online News. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ^ Gill, Sinead (8 October 2022). "Jules Radich takes Dunedin mayoralty as Hawkins loses out, while Glyn Lewers is to run Queenstown". Stuff. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  9. ^ "'Dunedin has spoken': Radich says he won by clear margin". Otago Daily Times. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.