Benedict Ong

Currently serving: Council - At Large, Dunedin City Council
Connect with Benedict Ong
Benedict Ong’s Elections & Candidacies

Note: This database contains data from the 2023, 2020, 2017 and 2014 general elections, the 2025 local government election and is gradually being backfilled with other election data.

Contested 2 races — 1 elected 1 not elected

2025 NZ Local Government • October 11, 2025 Local
Offices held
  • Council - At Large
    Dunedin City Council
    Oct 2025 – present
In the News
‘Discriminatory comments’ prompt complaint
Otago Daily Times — December 20, 2025

Benedict Ong. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED John Chambers. New Dunedin councillor Benedict Ong has made a complaint about the conduct of another city councillor.

Ong’s bid to chair new funding committee ‘a stretch’: mayor
Otago Daily Times — December 16, 2025

Benedict Ong. Sophie Barker. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED A third Dunedin city councillor is seeking a shake-up to the city’s governance, this time asking to chair a new committee to oversee council funding sources.

DCC takes hybrid route on governance
Otago Daily Times — November 24, 2025

PHOTO: NICOLA WILHELMSEN/KELK PHOTOGRAPHY Portfolios have been assigned at the start of the 2025-28 term for the Dunedin City Council. Elected members are (from left) Crs Benedict Ong (technology deputy lead), Mickey Treadwell (environment and youth deputy), Andrew Simms (economic development co-lead), Brent Weatherall (heritage lead), Mandy Mayhem (culture and arts deputy), Jules Radich (infrastructure lead), Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker (economic development co-lead), Cr Lee Vandervis, deputy mayor Cherry Lucas, Crs Doug Hall (technology lead), Christine Garey (culture and arts lead), Marie Laufiso (hauora health and wellbeing lead), Steve Walker (environment and youth lead), Russell Lund (heritage deputy) and John Chambers (hauora health and wellbeing deputy). A different style of council governance has been catching on in the South. It is touted as being more efficient but has also been called problematic. Grant Miller reports.

New Dunedin city councillor Benedict Ong on his successful election campaign and the critics
NZ Herald — November 8, 2025

Benedict Ong says two strangers he met on the street nominated him.

Tinker, AI, councillor… spy? Who is Benedict Ong?
Stuff — October 15, 2025

When a bolter was elected as a councillor the rumours started circulating. But Benedict Ong has confirmed he is not a spy, or AI.

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This database currently contains data from the 2025 local government eleciton, and general elections in 2023, 2020, 2017 and 2014. It is being backfilled with older data. Please get in touch if you want to help.