Elected members

Our Council has a Mayor and 15 Councillors, with elections every three years. Thirteen of our councillors make up Te Hirawanui General Ward, and two councillors make up Te Pūao Māori Ward.

Grant Smith

Mayor

  • Telephone06 351 4417
  • Email mayor@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileGrant Smith is the Mayor of Palmerston North. He was first elected to Council in 2013 and elected Mayor in a by-election in 2015. He is currently in his fifth term as Mayor.

Debi Marshall-Lobb

Councillor for Te Pūao Māori ward, Deputy Mayor

  • Telephone021 240 7297
  • Email debi.marshall-lobb@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileTe Pūao Māori ward councillor Debi Marshall-Lobb was appointed Deputy Mayor in 2022 and re-appointed for a second term on 5 November 2025.

Brent Barrett

Councillor for Te Hirawanui general ward

  • Telephone022 014 1749
  • Email brent.barrett@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileBrent Barrett is the Deputy Chair of the Community Resilience & Sustainability Committee.

Karen Naylor

Councillor for Te Hirawanui general ward

  • Telephone027 562 0470
  • Email karen.naylor@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileKaren Naylor is the Deputy Chair of the Finance, Performance & Audit Committee.

Lorna Johnson

Councillor for Te Hirawanui general ward

  • Telephone021 246 0668
  • Email lorna.johnson@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileLorna Johnson is the Chair of the Community Resilience & Sustainability Committee and the Hearings Committee.

Rachel Bowen

Councillor for Te Hirawanui general ward

  • Telephone021 167 2267
  • Email rachel.bowen@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileRachel Bowen is the Chair of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee.

William Wood

Councillor for Te Hirawanui general ward

  • Telephone021 169 2299
  • Email william.wood@pncc.govt.nz
  • ProfileWilliam Wood is the Chair of the Sport & Recreation Committee, and the Deputy Chair of the Hearings Committee.

Related information

Council meetings  Committees Register of members’ pecuniary interests