Sarah Thomson portrait

Sarah Thomson

Currently serving: West General Ward, Hamilton City Council
Official Candidate Biography

I'm standing for mayor with a clear plan: to lead a council that makes every ratepayer dollar count, while building a strong future for our city. 

An experienced councillor, former lawyer, and chair of the city's growth committee, I've worked hard on tough issues - fixing wastewater, reducing barriers to new homes, and improving city maintenance. I'll continue to push for practical solutions. 

That means Yes to working smarter and No to short-sighted cuts. 

It means teaming up with other councils to cut through duplication, drive down costs, and bring services back in-house to save money. 

Let's protect what makes Hamilton a great place to live: our libraries, pools, parks and events. And let's advocate to government for more support services, and partner with police, to create a safer city for all. I bring energy, vision, and proven leadership. Together, we can shape a city we're all proud of. sarahformayor.com 

Other News and Biography Details

At one of the Meet The Candidates events, which neither of us can recall (either Riverlea Theatre or Linda Jones Retirement Village), Sarah borrowed a pen from the organisers, which leaked all over her hands. At Netherville Retirement Village, having learnt her lesson, she borrowed my pen instead.

Skipping the weekend Hamilton Grey Power Meet The Candidates event, which she had not registered for in time, Sarah kept in touch with her rival Tim Macindoe by text, who himself gatecrashed the event.

Connect with Sarah Thomson
Sarah Thomson’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
  • Mayor
    Hamilton City Council
    Final Not elected
  • West General Ward
    Hamilton City Council
    Final Elected
Offices held
  • West General Ward
    Hamilton City Council
    Oct 2019 – present
In the News
Local Elections 2025: Hamilton elects councillor and former MP Tim Macindoe as mayor
NZ Herald — October 16, 2025

Tim Macindoe won 17,848 votes, ahead of Sarah Thomson’s 9768.

The battle for Hamilton: A former climate activist takes on a former National MP
The Spinoff — October 8, 2025

One candidate once took the government to court over its climate change targets. Now her main rival for mayor is banging the cost-cutting drum, and it’s demanding more compromise than her past self would have liked

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.

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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.