Mike Pettit had election signs around the district.
Money doesn’t always talk when it comes to district council elections.
In three races for the mayoral chains – Waipā, Ōtorohanga and Waitomo – the winner last October was outspent by one of his rivals.
The figures for Waikato district, where former deputy mayor Aksel Bech returned from the political wilderness to oust Jacqui Church, are not out yet.
Clare St Pierre, in Karapiro,
Janette Osborne
Top spenders Claire St Pierre finished third in Waipā, Janette Osborne failed in a bid to oust sitting Waitomo mayor John Robertson and Cathy Prendergast lost out to Rodney Dow in Ōtorohanga.
Candidates are required to declare their spending and donations they received.
St Pierre recorded the biggest spend in the three way battle for the Waipā mayoralty.
Her electoral expenses, $39,539.82, were more than those of Mike Pettit, who spent $25,460.78 and won the mayoral chains, and then incumbent Susan O’Regan, who spent $22,204.73.
The figures from the spending leading up to the October local body election are published on the council’s website.
Cathy Prendergast
But two of the three top spenders in the region were still winners on the night.
St Pierre, who received 3838 mayoral votes, was elected for a fourth term to Waipā’s Pirongia Ward.
Her expenses included campaign management, design, election signs, newspaper advertising, pamphlets, photographs, posters, social media, videos and a website.
She also received a $3330 donation from the Monckton family in Ōhaupō.
Pettit, who won the mayoral race with 7216 votes, received $5000 in donations, $2500 each from commercial property rental company Ryjo Holdings Ltd and civil contractors Waipā Civil Ltd. Joseph Comins is registered as director and shareholder of both.
Mike Pettit.
Pettit’s spend list included artificial intelligence (AI) video support, Cambridge Business Chamber member to member promotion, flyers, graphic design, newspaper advertising, photography, public relations, signage, social media and a website.
O’Regan, who received 5968 votes, spent money on apparel, billboards, Cambridge Business Chamber member to member promotion, digital support services, flyers, newspaper advertising, photographs and social media.
Electoral expenses returns filed on Waitomo District Council’s website showed rural Waitomo councillor Osborne spent $5777.27 on billboards, cards, campaign buttons, newspaper advertising, pamphlets, signs, social media and software.
She also received publicity when TVNZ delayed screening a piece featuring her in its Country Calendar programme following a complaint during the election campaign. The item ran after the election.
John Robertson
Osborne lost out to incumbent John Robertson in the mayoral race but, like St Pierre, remained on council. She kept her rural Waitomo seat – just a few votes ahead of Gavin Todd.
Robertson, who is now into his third term as mayor, spent $4389.28 on hoardings, letters, pamphlets and newspaper advertising.
Natasha Willison-Reardon, who stood unsuccessfully for mayor and a seat on council, spent $3011.93 on billboards and flyers. Richard Ross spent $477.25 on signs and also failed in his mayoral bid and to win a seat around the council table.
Cathy Prendergast spent the most of any mayoral candidate in Ōtorohanga. She invested $6132 on design, hoardings, flyers, and campaign meetings at Honikiwi Hall and Ōtewā Hall.
Rodney Dow
Unlike St Pierre and Osborne, Prendergast did not also seek election to council in a ward.
Eventual mayoral race winner Rodney Dow spent $4831.60 on advertising, brochures, signs and a video, and received a $920 donation from Ōtorohanga Transport Ltd of which he is managing director.
Jaimee Tamaki spent $1326 on candidate deposits, which no other mayoral candidate declared, plus pamphlets and signs. Tamaki was re-elected to the Rangiātea Māori Ward – which will be abolished at the next election in 2028.
Te Awamutu News 15 January 2026
