Independent Together
Independent Together | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Ray Chung |
| Founded | 2025 |
| Colours | Gold/Yellow Black |
| Website | |
| voteforit | |
Independent Together (IT) are a local-body political ticket that was established to contest the 2025 Wellington City Council election. Their leader and mayoral candidate is incumbent Wellington city councillor Ray Chung.
Positions and platform
The group was formed by incumbent Wellington city councillor Ray Chung. The group is campaigning on what they describe as their "five pillars"; these include a commitment to zero rates increases, getting council back to basics (focusing spending on water infrastructure, rubbish collection, parks, and roads), reducing council debt, improving transportation access to the city, rejecting party politics, and a safer Wellington.[1][2]
The key promise made by the group is that they will not increase rates in the following term, if elected.[2][3] As of April 2025, the group had yet to decide what would be cut to achieve this.[2][4] Talking to RNZ's Morning Report in June, Chung was not yet firm on what would be cut, only stressing that it would not be essential services.[5] He mentioned cutting council payroll, saying he had "no idea what a lot of these people do."[5] Chung himself would personally campaign against the Golden Mile project.[2][4]
The plan to achieve the zero rates increase includes cutting NZ$700,000,000 from staff costs, partially converting the Tākina convention centre for apartments or offices, stopping the Golden Mile revamp of central Wellington, stopping organic waste collection, and spending less on earthquake-strengthening for identified at-risk buildings.[6] Chung also proposed to negotiate with central government for NZ$439,000,000 of social housing upgrades, though government ministers were non-committal on this plan.[7] Chung expressed a desire to cut around 17% of council staff by mid-2026.[6] He also confirmed that the zero rates promise could be unattainable in the first year.[6]
The group would also campaign on opposing party politics on the city council.[2][3] Chung says he has never belonged to any political party.[5] According to Chung, the media and some of his colleagues had stated that the group was "a right-wing party" but he rejected this, saying he did not know what the political affiliations of any of the candidates were.[5]
Campaign
Chung held his mayoral campaign launch in June at the Public Trust Building to a crowd of over 200 people.[8] Philanthropist Mark Dunajtschik and former National MP Aaron Gilmore were in attendance.[9] Alistair Boyce of Better Wellington launched the event, saying the mayoral race was a two-horse race; "It's a Little versus honest Ray" he said.[9] Broadcaster Peter Williams introduced Chung.[8] Williams criticised "abhorrent" and "undemocratic" mana whenua representation on local councils.[9] A video of old footage of Wellington (Lord of the Rings red carpets and CubaDupa dancing) was contrasted with newer footage (vacant stores and empty streets). Chung, in a voiceover, talked about his career and the need for "more common sense" and "better financial management".[9] Boyce welcomed Chung to the stage, saying he was the "hope for the downtrodden ratepayer" and a "nemesis of the deep state".[9]
Chung reiterated his commitment to zero rates increases.[8] He supported a smaller council and growing Wellington's population.[9] Chung claimed the city council was paying $2 million a week servicing its debts. Councillor Geordie Rogers claimed that this figure was wrong and that it was actually $1.2m a week, which the council confirmed was correct. Chung admitted the number used in his speech was incorrect.[10]
The group's campaign manager is Libby Carson.[2][4]
Polling
A Curia Market Research poll in February had Chung as the candidate with the most name recognition and with the highest approval rating, though this was before Andrew Little entered the race[2] and before Tory Whanau dropped out.[11]
Endorsements
The group was endorsed by Better Wellington,[12] a right-wing campaign group.[13]
Finances
In June, Chung stated that he had received between $150,000 and $200,000 in donations, with "in the range of $20-$25K" coming from philanthropist Mark Dunajtschik.[14]
Criticism
Independent Together and Chung have been accused of having links to controversial conspiracy groups.[15] An analysis by digital investigator Keith Ng showed that websites for Ray Chung and Independent Together were hosted on the same server as anti-government conspiracy group Resistance Kiwi.[15] Chung denied knowledge of the connection, saying that the website was set up for him by controversial right-wing political organiser Glenn Inwood, who also operates Resistance Kiwi.[15]
Incumbent Green mayor Tory Whanau and other left of centre city councillors rebutted the group's stance on rates increases,[2] with councillor Rebecca Matthews going as far to say that the claim that city services could be maintained while achieving zero rates increases was "a lie".[4] Andrew Little, fellow mayoral candidate and former leader of the Labour Party, called the no-rates-increases policy "not credible".[5]
Playwright and satirist Dave Armstrong, in an op-ed for The Post, mocked what he saw as an oxymoronic contradiction: a political group forming to oppose political groups. He likened it to previous "independent" groups of right wing councillors.[16] A campaign parodying Independent Together was launched in June 2025, featuring "Pennywize the Rewilding Clown", with a campaign website that closely parodied that of the Independent Together website. The parody played on the character from Stephen King's horror franchise It.[17]
In an anonymous op-ed by The Post, candidate Dan Milward was accused of editing the Wikipedia article for the group, "tweaking" it to be "more-favourable". An account with the username Danmilward was banned for 31 hours from the site.[17]
Candidates
| Candidate | Photo | Ward | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Chung | .jpg)
|
Onslow-Western / Wharangi | Mayoral candidate |
| Ken Ah Kuoi | Eastern / Motukairangi | [19] | |
| Lily Brown | Onslow-Western / Wharangi | ||
| Andrea Compton | Northern / Takapu | ||
| Michelle McGuire | Eastern / Motukairangi | ||
| Dan Milward | Lambton / Pukehinau | ||
| Paula Muollo | Southern / Paekawakawa | ||
| Guy Nuuns | Onslow-Western / Wharangi | ||
| Stuart Wong | Lambton / Pukehinau |
See also
References
- ^ "Policy Pillars", Independent Together, archived from the original on 17 June 2025, retrieved 20 June 2025
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hunt, Tom (14 April 2025). "Wellington political group pledges no rates rises, can't say how". The Post. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ a b "Policy Pillars", Independent Together, archived from the original on 17 June 2025, retrieved 20 June 2025
- ^ a b c d Ricketts, Emma (16 April 2025). "The Wellington council candidates promising to freeze rates, but they won't say how". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Wellington mayoral hopeful Ray Chung promises to slash council jobs". Radio New Zealand. 6 June 2025.
- ^ a b c Hunt, Tom (16 June 2025), "Rate expectations: Strongest hint yet at Team Chung cuts", The Post, retrieved 20 June 2025
- ^ Hunt, Tom (12 June 2025), "Much ado about millions: One scene, two tellings", The Post, retrieved 20 June 2025
- ^ a b c Ridout, Amy (5 June 2025). "'Underdog' Ray Chung launches Wellington mayoral bid vowing zero rates hikes". Stuff.
- ^ a b c d e f Manera, Ethan (6 June 2025). "Ray Chung launches Wellington mayoral campaign". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Hunt, Tom (9 June 2025). "Wellington mayoral candidate admits $42m misstep over debt numbers". The Post. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
- ^ Waiwiri-Smith, Lyric (29 April 2025). "Tory Whanau drops out of mayoral race". The Spinoff.
- ^ Boyce, Alistair (13 April 2025). "'Better Wellington' endorses Ray Chung and ten independent candidates". Scoop.
- ^ Manera, Ethan (27 May 2025). "Wellington's Crown Observer issues warning over party politics round the council table". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Manera, Ethan (19 June 2025). "Rich-lister philanthropist Mark Dunajtschik bankrolling Wellington mayoral candidate Ray Chung". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ a b c Hunt, Tom (28 May 2025). "Call for please-explain as Wellington mayoral candidate linked to conspiracy group". The Post. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
- ^ Armstrong, Dave (15 April 2025). "Wellington City Council and the power of independent thinking". The Post.
- ^ a b "Campaign countdown: The week that was in Wellington's council". The Post. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Candidates". Independent Together. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ Afemata, Mary (20 May 2025). "After nearly 30 years, Wellington could see a Pasifika councillor again". Stuff. Retrieved 17 June 2025.