Rudi Du Plooy portrait

Rudi Du Plooy

Official Candidate Biography

I'm married to Barbara, my inspiration and strength. With Barbara's support, I'm running for Mayor of Hamilton to restore effective, efficient, and responsible management to our City Council. I am a man of faith, which inspires me to serve the community. My eight years as a Councillor in Johannesburg, serving on oversight committees, managing a metropolis 30 times Hamilton's population and 15 times its size, gives me razor-sharp expertise to curb wasteful spending. Sizable rate increases are symptomatic of poor financial management. I'll implement tactical financial oversight and stop the proposed Council-Controlled Organisation (CCO) for water, preventing water meters and hidden taxes.  

My innovative water conservation plan and 10-year Hamilton Lake project will make our city New Zealand's gem. I'll prioritize strategic cycle lane redesign and safe pedestrian walkways for seniors, mobility scooters, and families. Let's rid ourselves of the road cone madness. I'll lead Hamilton to thrive responsibly.

Connect with Rudi Du Plooy
Rudi Du Plooy’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 7 races — 0 elected 7 not elected

2025 NZ Local Government • October 11, 2025 Local
  • East General Ward
    Hamilton City Council
    Policy Ballot name: Rudi Du Plooy
    Final Not elected
    Vote share • 5.0%
    1,317 votes
  • Mayor
    Hamilton City Council
    Policy Ballot name: Rudi Du Plooy
    Final Not elected
    Vote share • 4.1%
    1,692 votes
2023 NZ General Election • October 14, 2023 General
  • List MP
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: Freedoms NZ
    Ballot name: DU PLOOY, Rudi
    Final Not elected
  • MP for Hamilton West
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: Freedoms NZ
    Ballot name: DU PLOOY, Rudi
    Final Not elected
    Vote share • 0.9%
    323 votes
2022 Hamilton West Byelection • December 10, 2022 General
  • MP for Hamilton West
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: New Conservative + One Party
    Ballot name: DU PLOOY, Rudi
    Final Not elected
    Vote share • 0.8%
    118 votes
2022 NZ Local Government • October 8, 2022 Local
  • West General Ward
    Hamilton City Council
    Affiliation: Team Integrity
    Final Not elected
2020 NZ General Election • October 17, 2020 General
  • MP for Hamilton West
    Parliament of New Zealand
    Affiliation: New Conservative
    Ballot name: DU PLOOY, Rudi
    Final Not elected
    Vote share • 1.6%
    615 votes
In the News
Police callouts, oddball policy, and occasional political debate in Hamilton
The Spinoff — September 30, 2025

It was a strange and eventful night, but in the end all the candidates at National’s 2025 Hamilton mayoral debate united on one difficult, perhaps even impossible, course of action. About half an hour into the National Party’s Hamilton mayoral debate, a man gets up and starts shouting.

Who wants to be the next mayor of Hamilton?
The Spinoff — August 6, 2025

There’s a wide-open race to lead the city of the future. With incumbent mayor Paula Southgate headed for the door, it’s anyone’s game for the Hamilton mayoralty. Nominations for the race are now closed and 12 candidates are in the running.

One candidate, two parties: Conservative coalition picks Hamilton West contender
Stuff — November 7, 2022

The New Conservative Party and the Christian One Party have joined forces to stand Rudi du Plooy in the Hamilton West by-election.

The strange case of the election hoarding vandalised by Photoshop
The Spinoff — July 30, 2020

The social media page of New Conservative candidate Rudi du Plooy erupted last night with claims his sign had been vandalised before social media users pointed out it was an obvious Photoshop. So what really happened? Alex Braae gave him a call.

South African expats revive 'racist' Afrikaans national day in NZ
Stuff — December 20, 2017

Rudi du Plooy celebrates the controversial Day of the Vow, an Afrikaans holiday commemorating a battle between the Voortrekkers and the Zulu.

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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.