• Former Labour leader Andrew Little is considering running for Wellington mayor.
• Little previously ruled it out but now says the city needs a change.
• Confirmed candidates include Tory Whanau, Ray Chung, Karl Tiefenbacher, Kelvin Hastie, Graham Bloxham, and Rob Goulden.

Former Labour leader Andrew Little has confirmed 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.

Little retired from politics in 2023 but now says he's considering the Wellington mayoralty. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

“I’m actively considering it,” Little told the Herald 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 said.

He entered Parliament in 2011 and was leader of the Labour Party and leader of the Opposition from 2014 to 2017.

Little served as a senior minister in Governments led by Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins.

He currently works as a consultant at Wellington law firm Gibson Sheat Lawyers.

Little says he's been approached by a wide range of people to run for the city's top job. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Little lives in Island Bay with his family.

The confirmed candidates for the mayoralty are incumbent Tory Whanau, city councillor Ray Chung, businessman Karl Tiefenbacher, predator-free champion Kelvin Hastie, Wellington Live owner Graham Bloxham, and former city councillor Rob Goulden.

Whanau yesterday secured the Green party’s endorsement.

The local election will be held on October 11.

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 [email protected].