ACT Local has selected Nigel Elder, a long-time Lower Hutt resident, former Defence Force serviceman, and successful business owner as its candidate for the Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt constituency of the Greater Wellington Regional Council in this year’s local election.

Nigel is a dad, a keen cycling and rugby enthusiast, who has called Lower Hutt home for decades. After serving in the New Zealand Defence Force, he worked in agriculture before spending the last 15 years running his own wine export business, proudly taking quality New Zealand produce to the world.

“I’m running to bring smarter, leaner regional governance to Greater Wellington. We need better infrastructure, more efficient services, and real support for the industries that keep our region moving.

"I’ll champion practical solutions & flood protection, reliable public transport, clean water, instead of waste and grandstanding. I back local control over water assets, not another Three Waters-style bureaucracy. Let’s respect property rights, cut the red tape, and get Greater Wellington working again. No fluff, just straight-up results.” – Nigel Elder

Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects.

When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting:

• Fixing the basics

• Lower Rates

• Cutting the waste

• Ending race-based politics

• Restoring accountability

ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

“ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who’ve had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It’s time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won’t divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They’re here to serve, not lecture." – Cameron Luxton