Ryan Bridge: Are local elections a flop?

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Oct 2, 2025 · 2m · transcript

At what point do you say this local government election's a failure, a flop, not worth the paper it's written on?

I think we're fast approaching that point now.

Even in Auckland - our biggest city. Super-City. With the most responsibility, the biggest burden to shoulder after amalgamation, the turnout with two weeks left to go is 9.2%. Last year it was 35%.

That's not a mandate. It's a vote of no confidence in the entire system.

If you think about it, it's not like Kiwis aren't engaged in democracy. We come in national elections at a rate closer to 80%.

So, you ask yourself, what's the…