Instead members nominated Eastern ward councillor Hazel Armstrong, though she declined to stand for mayor or the city council.

The Labour Party eventually chose Elizabeth Tennet, the Member of Parliament for Island Bay, as its candidate for the election.

Wilde did not support Tennet's candidacy thinking she was not right for the role and she was only standing for mayor because the Island Bay seat was being abolished at the next general election.

[5] The former chairman of the now defunct Wellington Harbour Board Nigel Gould was selected as the Citizens' Association candidate, beating out shoe retailer Mark Blumsky and ratepayer advocate Jack Ruben for the nomination.

Gould finished in a disappointing fourth place for mayor and only four Citizens' ticket candidates won seats in the council, a record low.