Campbell Barry

Barry was educated at Wainuiomata High School. He went on to study at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/students/graduation-and-beyond/roll-of-graduates?firstname=campbell&lastname=barry |title=Roll of graduates |publisher=Victoria University of Wellington |accessdate=22 April 2020}}

At the 2013 local body elections, Barry was elected a member of the Hutt City Council for the Wainuiomata ward and was re-elected in 2016. He was the youngest person ever to be elected onto the city council.

In October 2016, Barry contested the Labour Party nomination for the electorate of {{NZ electorate link|Hutt South}} for the {{NZ election link|2017}} against Ginny Andersen and Sarah Packer after long-serving member of parliament Trevor Mallard signalled his intention to stand as a list-only candidate at the election. Andersen won the selection.{{Cite news |url= http://stuff.co.nz/national/politics/85907707/labour-selects-former-ohariu-candidate-to-run-in-hutt-south-electorate |title=Labour selects former Ohariu candidate Virginia Andersen to run in Hutt South electorate | work=stuff.co.nz|date=31 October 2016|accessdate=13 January 2017}}

In June 2017, Barry raised a motion to abolish ratepayer-funded meals for city councillors at long meetings, as he believed elected members should pay for their own meals after the Council decided to introduce what he called "a sham Living Wage Policy".{{Cite news|url=http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/93137786/hutt-mayor-gets-a-roasting-over-sham--living-wage-decision|title=Hutt mayor gets a roasting over 'sham' living wage decision|work=Stuff|access-date=22 August 2017}} After a 7–6 vote, with mayor Ray Wallace voting in favour of retaining the meals, a public backlash engulfed the Council in controversy.{{Cite news |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hutt-valley/93616869/hutt-city-mayor-ray-wallace-uses-casting-vote-to-retain-free-meals-for-councillors |title=Hutt City Mayor Ray Wallace uses casting vote to retain free meals for councillors|work=Stuff |access-date=22 August 2017}}

At the 2019 local-body elections, Barry was elected mayor of Lower Hutt, beating the incumbent Ray Wallace by 15,453 votes to 13,034.{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/116525732/wellington-election-2019-wallace-toppled-by-barry-in-hutt-city |title=Wallace toppled by Barry in Hutt City |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=12 October 2019 |access-date=12 October 2019}} At 28, he was the youngest person ever elected to the office of mayor of a city in New Zealand.{{refn|group=nb|Kevin O'Hara was elected mayor of a borough council (Mount Maunganui) aged 26 in 1974.{{Cite news |title=Mayor of Mount at 26 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=14 October 1974 |page=1 }}}}{{Cite news |author=Long, Jessica |author2=Tso, Matthew |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116528883/lower-hutt-elects-new-zealands-youngest-ever-mayor-campbell-barry |title=Lower Hutt elects New Zealand's youngest ever mayor, Campbell Barry |work=Stuff.co.nz |date=13 October 2019 |access-date=15 October 2019}}

In July 2020 his council secured funding from the government to rebuild the Naenae pool, fulfilling a campaign promise. The council co-funded the project.{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/422339/govt-announces-27m-for-new-naenae-pool-building |title=Govt announces $27m for new Naenae Pool building |last= |first= |date=30 July 2020 |website=Radio New Zealand |publisher= |access-date=18 September 2020 }} In September of the same year the council passed a change to the city's rubbish collection system.{{cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/hutt-valley/300111044/rubbish-collection-causing-a-stink-in-lower-hutt |title=Rubbish collection causing a stink in Lower Hutt |last=Boyack |first=Nicholas |date=18 September 2020 |website=Stuff |publisher= |access-date=18 September 2020 }}

File:Campbell Barry.jpg

On 15 May 2021, Barry opened Lower Hutt's first Dog Park. Named after veteran animal control officer, Les Dalton. Barry said at the opening "It was a real privilege to open the park alongside Les’ wife Jill. As everyone said, Les would be extremely excited and proud to see the park open today."{{Cite web|date=May 15, 2021|title=Lower Hutt's First Dog Park Opens To Public|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK2105/S00304/lower-hutts-first-dog-park-opens-to-public.htm|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.scoop.co.nz}}

In May 2021, Barry was elected as the new chair of Wellington Water, replacing the outgoing Chair David Bassett who had held the role since the establishment of Wellington Water in 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/124416487/wellington-water-chair-david-bassett-steps-down-ahead-of-three-waters-announcement| title= Wellington Water chair David Bassett steps down ahead of Three Waters announcement| work=Stuff| first= Brittany |last=Keogh| date=3 March 2021| access-date=3 May 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hutt-city-mayor-campbell-barry-elected-as-new-wellington-water-committee-chairman/AUAFP3UY6ZNYXU2BFZ3OS2I4DU/ |title=Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry elected as new Wellington Water Committee chairman| date=17 May 2021| work=New Zealand Herald| first=Georgina| last=Campbell| access-date=20 May 2021}}

In 2021, he made the comment about the group, Speak Up For Women, a group formed in opposition to the Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Relationships Registration Act 2021,{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/131754757/council-gives-money-to-controversial-group-speak-up-for-women-after-refusing-to-host-meeting-at-library#:~:text=Christchurch%20City%20Council%20have%20made,meeting%20room%20at%20a%20library |title=Council gives money to controversial group Speak Up For Women after refusing to host meeting at library| date=12 April 2023| work=Stuff| first=Poppy| last=Clark| access-date=18 April 2023}} asking "if this group needs a venue in the Hutt, I've got some nice new waste bins they can use?"{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/speak-up-for-women-controversy-billboard-removed-mayor-apologises/CGUGDIAATDU3CCE56TUMCMJOQM/ |title=Speak Up For Women controversy: Billboard removed, mayor apologises| date=13 July 2021| work=New Zealand Herald| first=Georgina| last=Campbell| access-date=17 April 2023}} Following a complaint by the New Zealand branch of the Free Speech Union, he apologised for his comment.

He was re-elected in 2022 with a 2,443 vote majority over Tony Stallinger of the United Hutt group.{{cite web |last1=Boyack |first1=Nicholas |title=Campbell Barry wins Hutt City mayoralty |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/130111565/campbell-barry-wins-hutt-city-mayoralty |website=Stuff |access-date=4 May 2023}}

In 2025, Barry decided not to seek re-election as mayor in that year's local elections.{{cite news |title=Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry calling it quits at next election |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/557717/lower-hutt-mayor-campbell-barry-calling-it-quits-at-next-election |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=RNZ |date=10 April 2025 |language=en-nz}}{{cite news |last1=Ridout |first1=Amy |title=Lower Hutt mayor won’t stand for re-election |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360648566/lower-hutt-mayor-wont-stand-re-election |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=Stuff |date=10 April 2025}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Lower Hutt

Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni

Category:Mayors of Lower Hutt

Category:Hutt City Councillors

Category:New Zealand Labour Party politicians

Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians

Category:People educated at Wainuiomata High School