A local government expert's warning of the risks of another one-term Wellington mayoralty

Tory Whanau will mark the third one-term mayor in nine years, after news she won't stand again for the top job.

Mayoral hopeful Andrew Little has told Newstalk ZB it's led to a sense of a lack of stability at the council, and he's committed to stand for more than one term if elected.

Andy Asquith from University of Technology Sydney says high mayoral turnover is bad for the city, but is due to a lack of strong leadership in recent mayors.

He says Wellington's political culture on the council has also contributed to mayors not being reelected.