[1] The next day incumbent mayor, Sir Jim Belich, made inferences that he was considering standing for a third term.

"[3] Following Belich's decision to retire from the mayoralty, the Labour Party chose Wellington Central MP Fran Wilde as their candidate.

Citizens' leader on the council Les Stephens, Eastern ward councillor Ruth Gotlieb, former councillor Bryan Weyburne, ex-deputy mayor Gavin Wilson and previous mayor Ian Lawrence were all approached by the selection committee.

[7] Five names (Comber, Gotlieb, Lawrence, Stephens and Weyburne) went forward for the final selection panel.

[9] The following table gives the election results: Fran Wilde polled the highest in all seven of Wellington's electoral wards.