Greens lose WCC by-election

The Herald reports:

It’s a Green backlash in Wellington this afternoon as locals have voted in self-described centrist Karl Tiefenbacher in the city council byelection – replacing former Green councillor Tamatha Paul.

Wellington was out of step with the National-led Government in last year’s general election when Paul and Julie Anne Genter turned two safe Labour electorates Green.

Paul previously won the Pukehīnau/ Lambton ward for a second term in 2022, with the highest majority of any Wellington City Councillor.

Not only did the Greens top the vote last election, they didn’t even have a Labour candidate in this election splitting the left vote.

This is a clear message to the WCC that people are sick of huge expensive projects and massive rates increases. Hopefully the result will mean one fewer Councillor in favour of the $32 million corporate welfare deal to Reading Cinemas.