Sophie Barker

I’ll be a visible Mayor with a bold ambition: to make Dunedin a strong, prosperous, and thriving city for everyone. Dunedin deserves authentic, approachable leadership—someone who listens, leads with action, and is dedicated to community public service.

With six high-performing years as a City Councillor, backgrounded with business, marketing, conservation, and heritage skills, I bring the experience and drive to deliver real results. I’m laser-focussed on council transformation, accountability, and value-for-money rates.

I envision Dunedin as the best place to live in NZ—where meaningful jobs, vibrant communities, and a high standard of living go hand-in-hand with a protected environment. We must raise Dunedin’s profile, advocate fiercely for ourselves, and build a celebrated city that’s safe, strong and climate resilient. I’m a practical, sensible, action-focused leader with people at my heart—ready to lead our city into a bright, sustainable future.