The 2004 Lower Hutt mayoral election was part of the wider 2004 New Zealand local elections. The elections were held for the role of Mayor of Lower Hutt plus other local government positions including eleven city councillors, also elected triennially. The polling was conducted using the standard first-past-the-post electoral method.
The incumbent Mayor, John Terris, stood for a fourth term. He was opposed by Eastern Ward councillor Scott Dalziel and former councillor David Ogden. Ogden and Terris were previously political allies though came to differ on policy issues, particularly over council debt and rates. Terris' campaign suffered greatly when was hospitalised with blood poisoning at the start of the election leaving him little time or energy to campaign.[1]