H To Update Links on Local Elections Information.pdf

Local elections 2025 | Vote NZ
Vote.nz - Local elections 2025: Overview page
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Have your say on who represents your community by voting in the 2025 local elections.
Māori
Local elections decide who represents us on our city, district, and regional councils.
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The people elected to local councils get to make decisions about our daily lives and the future
of our towns and cities. They set and collect rates, oversee town planning, and provide services
like rubbish collection, parks and libraries.
In some parts of New Zealand, local elections are also held for local and community boards,
licensing trusts, and some other organisations.
Local councils run the local elections, and our role is limited to enrolment. For more
information about the local election in your area, contact your council.
Council websites and maps (Local Government New Zealand)
Information for voters (votelocal.co.nz)
Māori ward polls
Some local councils that have Māori wards or constituencies will be holding polls at the 2025
local elections to ask voters whether or not they support keeping them.
About Māori wards and constituencies (votelocal.co.nz)
Enrol to have your say
If you’re on the electoral roll, you can vote in the local elections where you live.
You can enrol if you’re 18 or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and have lived
in New Zealand for more than one year continuously at some time in your life.
You can enrol or update your details online, or call and ask us on 0800 36 76 56 for help.
Enrol or update online
If you enrol after Friday 1 August
If you enrol or update your address after 1 August 2025, you won’t get your voting papers sent to
you in the mail. You’ll need to contact your council’s electoral officer.
The last day to enrol to vote in the local elections is Friday 10 October 2025.
Electoral officers (votelocal.co.nz)
Māori roll or general roll?
If you’re of New Zealand Māori descent, you can choose to enrol on the Māori roll or the general
roll. The roll you choose may affect who you can vote for at local elections.
If you are enrolled and would like to change the roll you are on before the local elections, you
need to do it by Thursday 10 July 2025.
Māori roll or general roll

Voting in local elections | Vote NZ
Vote.nz - Local elections 2025: Voting in local elections page
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Local councils run the local elections
Local elections are run by local councils. Each local authority appoints an electoral officer to
conduct its election.
If you are enrolled by 1 August, your local council will send you voting papers in the mail when
it’s time to vote.
The Electoral Commission’s role is to make sure each council has up-to-date electoral roll
information in time for the elections. We do not run or oversee the local elections.
Council websites and maps (Local Government New Zealand)
Information for voters (votelocal.co.nz)
Voting when you’re on the unpublished roll
If you’re on the unpublished roll, your name will not appear on the printed electoral roll. You
need to apply to the electoral officer at your local council to get your voting papers, as they will
not be sent to you in the mail.
Electoral officers (votelocal.co.nz)
Voting from overseas
If you’re overseas, you can enrol to vote in the local elections if you are a New Zealand citizen
who has been in New Zealand within the last 3 years, or you’re a New Zealand permanent
resident who has been in New Zealand in the last 12 months.
Make sure you’re correctly enrolled with an overseas postal address to get your voting papers.
You can’t download or return voting papers electronically for local elections.
Enrol from overseas
Voting when you own property in a council area, but don’t live there
Each council has a ratepayer roll for people who pay rates on a property but live in another part
of the country. In that situation, a person can vote in the area where they live, and the area
where they pay rates.
To apply, contact the electoral officer for the local council area where you pay rates but do not
live.
Electoral officers (votelocal.co.nz)

Find out more about the local elections | Vote NZ
Vote.nz - Find out more about the local elections
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Local elections are run by local councils. Each council appoints an electoral officer to conduct
its election.
The Electoral Commission’s role is to make sure people are enrolled to vote and provide each
council with electoral roll information that is up to date. We are not involved in the conduct or
administration of local elections.
Your local council will have information about the elections in your area.
Council websites and maps (LGNZ)
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ngā paetukutuku kaunihera (LGNZ) “
At the local elections, candidates stand for election to a variety of roles including mayor,
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councillor, community board member or local board member.
The rest were English
Information for candidates (votelocal.co.nz)
Information for Māori candidates (votelocal.co.nz)
Candidates can run election advertising and put election signs up.
Contact your local electoral officer if you have an enquiry about election advertising.
Electoral officers (votelocal.co.nz)

What are local elections? | Elections
Elections.nz - What are local elections?
In local elections, we choose who represents us on our councils. Local elections are run by
local councils and are held every 3 years by postal vote. If you’re on the electoral roll, you can
vote in local elections where you live.
Local elections decide who has a say on local elections
Local elections decide who represents our local communities on local issues. Local elections
are held for city, district, and regional councils.
In some parts of New Zealand, local elections are also held for local and community boards,
licensing trusts, and some other organisations.
Local councils run local elections
Local councils do most of the work of running local elections. Our role is to:
• make sure each council has an up-to-date electoral roll in time for elections
• encourage people to enrol in time to vote.
If you’re enrolled, your local council will send you voting papers in the mail.
Voting when you’re on the unpublished roll
If you’re registered on the unpublished roll, you need to apply to the electoral officer at your
local council to get your voting papers.
Voting from overseas
If you’re overseas, you can still take part in local elections. Just make sure you’re correctly
enrolled with an overseas postal address to get your voting papers. You can’t download voting
papers for a local election.
Voting when you own property in a council area but don’t live there
If you own property within a local council area, but usually live outside this area, you can apply
to go on the ratepayer roll. You can then vote in the area where you pay rates, and the area
where you live.
Apply to get on the ratepayer roll
To apply, contact the electoral officer for the local council area where you pay rates but do not
live. The electoral officer will send you a form to complete, sign and return so they can check
you’re eligible.
General or Māori roll?
The roll you are on may affect the way you vote in local elections.
If you choose the Māori roll, and your local council has a Māori ward or constituency, you will
vote for candidates in the Māori ward or constituency. If you choose the general roll, you will
vote for candidates in the general ward or constituency.

When can you choose rolls?
If you are Māori, and enrolling to vote for the first time, you choose which electoral roll you want
to be on.
You can also change your roll type at any time, except:
•  in the 3 months before a general election
•  in the 3 months before local elections which are held every 3 years
•  before a parliamentary by-election if the change would move you into the electorate
where the by-election is being held.
If you’re Māori and enrolling for the first time you can still choose either the Māori roll or the
general roll.
Find out more about the Māori roll
How to make your choice
If you’re happy with the roll you’re on, you don’t need to do anything. If you want to change the
roll you’re on, you can make the change online, by email, or by mail.
Change your roll
2025 local elections
The local elections are being held on 11 October 2025.
Council websites and maps – Local Government New Zealand
More information about local elections
Learn more about local government and local elections on the following sites.
Local government in New Zealand — Local Government New Zealand
Local Elections — Department of Internal Affairs
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website. Leave for now.

Advice and complaints | Elections
Elections.nz - Advice and Complaints page
There are different organisations you can contact if you have questions or concerns about an
election advertisement.
Contact us about election advertising rules
We’re responsible for making sure everyone follows the rules about promoter statements,
authorisation of advertising and electoral finance.
You can complain to us about breaches of:
• election advertising and the election day rules under the Electoral Act
• requirements for election programmes under the Broadcasting Act.
You can also ask us for advice about election and advertising rules.
Contact us about a question or complaint
If we believe a person or group has committed an offence, we’ll report the facts to the police.
We can’t enforce laws or prosecute offenders.
Sometimes, we may not report an offence if there’s no public interest because it’s so
inconsequential.
Our role does not include regulating the content of campaign advertising, broadcasts or media
activity. The Broadcasting Standards Authority, the Advertising Standards Authority and the
Media Council all have roles in regulating of content (see below).
Contact the Broadcasting Standards Authority about broadcasting
The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) oversees broadcasting on TV and radio.
Election programmes must follow the Election Programmes Code
Election programmes on TV and radio, such as party and candidate advertisements, must
follow the Election Programmes Code of Broadcasting Practice.
The BSA website has more information about the code, and how to complain under it:
Learn more about the Election Programmes Code
Third party programmes must follow broadcasting standards
Third party programmes about elections must comply with the relevant obligations in the Code
of Broadcasting Standards in New Zealand.
If you think a programme has breached a standard, complain to the broadcaster first. If you
can’t resolve your complaint, you can go to the BSA.
The BSA website has more information about the standards and how to complain:
Learn more about the broadcasting standards
Contact the Advertising Standards Authority about other advertising

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) oversees advertising in all media other than TV and
radio.
They'll review complaints about paid or boosted posts or ads on social media, but won't
consider complaints about unpaid or organic posts.
Advertising must comply with the ASA Codes of Practice. The ASA website has more
information about how the codes apply to election advertising:
Advertising Standards Authority
ASA Guide on Election Advertising (May 2023)
Contact the Media Council about editorial content
The New Zealand Media Council oversees its members, which include publications and news
websites.
If you want to complain about editorial content, you must go to the publisher first. If you can’t
resolve your complaint, you can go to the Media Council.
The Media Council website has more information about its members, and how to complain:
Learn more about the Media Council
Contact local councils about election signs
If you have any questions or complaints about the placement of election signs, talk to the local
council of the area the sign is in.
The Local Government New Zealand website has links to every council’s website, where you’ll
find contact details:
Find contact details for local councils
Types of complaint
Example
Who to contact
No promoter statement
Electoral Commission
Candidate or party TV or radio ads
Broadcasting Standards Authority
Opinion piece in newspaper
Media Council
Signs up in my local area
Local Council

Example
Who to contact
Signs up on election day
Electoral Commission
Spending limits on election
Electoral Commission
advertising
Content of print, outdoor, online
Advertising Standards Authority
paid advertising
Unpaid personal political views
Not regulated
online

Contact us | Vote NZ
Vote.nz - Contact us
The Electoral Commission runs parliamentary elections. We do not run or oversee local
elections.
Questions about the local elections should be directed to your local council.
Council websites and maps (LGNZ)
If you have questions about your enrolment, you can call us on 0800 36 76 56 (or +64 9 909 4182
if calling from overseas), email us, or get in touch with us using the form below.
Our approach to complaints (elections.nz)
Frequently asked questions
I haven’t received my voting papers for the local elections/how can I vote in
the local elections?
Local elections are run by local councils, and the Electoral Commission's role in them is limited
to enrolment. If you have questions about the local elections, you should contact your local
council.
If you were enrolled at your current address by 1 August, your council will have sent your voting
papers to you. They should have arrived between 9 and 22 September.
If you haven't received voting papers for the local elections, you need to contact your
council's electoral officer to make a special vote.
Electoral officers (votelocal.co.nz)
Your council may have information about where, when and how to make a special vote on their
website.
Council websites and maps (LGNZ)
You need to return your voting papers by 12 noon on Saturday 11 October.
Key dates (votelocal.co.nz)
Vote Local provide answers to frequently asked questions about the local elections here:
Voter FAQs (votelocal.co.nz)
Who runs the local elections/where can I complain about local elections?
Local elections are run by local councils. The Electoral Commission's role in them is limited to
enrolment.
For more information about the local elections in your area, you should contact your local
council.
Council websites and maps (Local Government New Zealand)

Why can’t I find my enrolment online?
If you can't find your enrolment in our online search, it doesn't necessarily mean you're not
enrolled.
Some possibilities include:
•  The details you've provided don't exactly match our records
If there's a small difference between the inforrmation we have on file and the
information you’ve entered, the search might not find you. This can sometimes be due
to your browser autofilling information in the wrong fields, or may also be due to spelling
or formatting.
•  You’ve enrolled recently
If you’ve recently enrolled or updated your details you won’t be able to see your details
online straight away. It takes time for us to manually check and process enrolments.
We’ll be in touch once your enrolment has been processed.
•  You’re on the dormant roll
If you’ve moved addresses since you last updated your enrolment, you may have been
placed on the dormant roll. You need to update your address with us to find yourself in
the search.
•  You’re on the unpublished roll
If you’ve chosen to go on the unpublished roll, you won’t be able to search for your
details. You can contact our unpublished roll team on
[email address]
If you have any concerns about your enrolment please contact us so our enrolment team can
investigate for you.
Troubleshooting your enrolment
What are the rules about election signs/how do I complain about election
signs?
Under the Electoral Act 1993, election advertising may be published at any time, except on
election day.
Election signs (elections.nz)
Councils may have their own rules about the placement of election signs. If you have questions
or concerns about the placement of election signs in your area, you can contact your local
council.
Council websites and maps (Local Government New Zealand)
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Find your electorate on a map | Vote NZ
Vote.nz – Find your electorate on a map
Your electorate is the voting area you live in. Every place in New Zealand is covered by both a
general electorate and a Māori electorate. The voters in each electorate choose a member of
Parliament to represent them.
View map of general and Māori electorates
Opens in new tab
Use this map to look up the Parliamentary electorate you're in, based on your address.
It does not show local council boundaries or wards/constituencies. To find your local council
area, you can check the information provided on the LGNZ website:
Council websites and maps (LGNZ)
If you're enrolled to vote, you can check which local council and ward/constituency you're
enrolled in by looking up your details:
Enrol or update online
Current electorates
Currently there are 72 electorates, including 65 general electorates and 7 Māori electorates.

What to do | Vote NZ
Vote.nz - What to do
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Voting in a local election
embedding again?
In a local election, you vote for who you want to represent your local community. Local
elections are held to elect members of city, district and regional councils.
If you’re enrolled to vote, you can vote in local elections where you live.
Local elections are run by local councils every 3 years and held by postal vote.
The next local elections will be held in 2025.
What are local elections?
Contact your local council for more information
If you have questions or need help to vote in a local election, contact your local council.
Council websites and maps (Local Government New Zealand)

Facts about New Zealand elections | Vote NZ
Vote.nz – Facts about New Zealand elections
Councils have their own rules about election signs
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Although election advertising may be published at any time, councils and local authorities may
have their own rules about the placement of election signs. To find out the rules in your area,
you should contact your local council.
Election signs (elections.nz)
Council maps and websites (Local Government New Zealand)

Contact | Elections
Elections.nz – Contact
The Electoral Commission runs parliamentary elections. We do not run or oversee local
elections.
Questions about the local elections should be directed to your local council.
Council websites and maps (LGNZ)
If you have questions about your enrolment, please call us on 0800 36 76 56, click the Help
button, or get in touch with us using the email form or contact details on this page.
Our approach to complaints
Frequently asked questions
I haven’t received my voting papers for the local elections/how can I vote in
the local elections?
Local elections are run by local councils, and the Electoral Commission's role in them is limited
to enrolment. If you have questions about the local elections, you should contact your local
council.
If you were enrolled at your current address by 1 August, your council will have sent your voting
papers to you. They should have arrived between 9 and 22 September.
If you haven't received voting papers for the local elections, you need to contact your
council's electoral officer to make a special vote.
Electoral officers (votelocal.co.nz)
Your council may have information about where, when and how to make a special vote on their
website.
Council websites and maps (LGNZ)
You need to return your voting papers by 12 noon on Saturday 11 October.
Key dates (votelocal.co.nz)
Vote Local provide answers to frequently asked questions about the local elections here:
Voter FAQs (votelocal.co.nz)
Who runs the local elections/where can I complain about local elections?
Local elections are run by local councils. The Electoral Commission's role in them is limited to
enrolment.
For more information about the local elections in your area, you should contact your local
council.
Council websites and maps (Local Government New Zealand)

What are the rules about election signs/how do I complain about election
signs?
Under the Electoral Act 1993, election advertising may be published at any time, except on
election day.
Election signs
Councils may have their own rules about the placement of election signs. If you have questions
or concerns about the placement of election signs in your area, you can contact your local
council.
Council website and maps (Local Government New Zealand)
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Guidance from other agencies | Elections
Elections.nz - Guidance from other agencies
Local councils
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If you have any questions or complaints about the placement of election signs, talk to the
local council of the area the sign is in.
The Local Government New Zealand website has council boundary maps and links to all local
councils.

Election signs | Elections
Elections.nz – Election signs
If you want to put up election signs for the general election or a by-election you need to be
aware of the rules.
Local councils regulate election signs in their area
You should talk to your local council before you put up any election signs. Local councils are
responsible for regulating when, where, and how election signs can be displayed. There is no
fixed date in the Electoral Act when election signs are allowed to go up. Election signs can go up
as soon as they are allowed to be displayed in the area you live.
The Local Councils website can show you how to contact local councils.
Council contact list (localcouncils.govt.nz)
Be aware council rules about election signage can apply to signs on both public and private
land.
Election signs on or near state highways
Waka Kotahi must approve general election signs that will be placed on or next to state
highways and signs must comply with the Waka Kotahi general election sign guidance. Further
information is available here.
What size election signs are allowed?
In the 9 weeks before election day the Electoral Act says you can have election signs that are up
to 3 square metres in size. This supersedes any council rules about the size of election signs in
this period.
This applies wherever you are in New Zealand, but you’ll still need to follow your local council’s
application processes and rules about where you can put them up and how many you can have.
(image)
Total area = 3 square metres
This for example covers a standard billboard 1.2m x 2.4m.
It is not 3m2 (metres squared) - which would be 3 x 3m and a total of 9 square metres.
Bigger signs can go up, and signs can go up sooner if the council allows this. Talk to your
council if you want to have larger signs or put them up earlier.
The lettering of signs larger than 1.5 square metres that are on a road must be:
•  120mm in height if the speed limit is less than 70km per hour
•  160mm in height if the speed limit is more than 70km per hour
These requirements do not apply to lettering on registered party logos or promoter statements.

There are also rules that relate to road safety and the use of reflective material or illuminations,
having moving parts or looking like traffic signs in the Electoral (Advertisements of a Specified
Kind) Regulations.
The rules in the Electoral Act
We are responsible for the rules in the Electoral Act.
These rules allow campaigning to start at any time, other than on election day.
Election signs need a promoter statement
If an election sign is an election advertisement it needs a promoter statement to be clearly
displayed, with the name and address of the person that has instigated it. This rule provides
transparency about who is responsible for election advertising.
About election advertising
Clearly displayed doesn't mean someone should be able to read the promoter statement from
where the advertisement is ordinarily viewed. For example, people don't need to be able to read
the promoter statement on a billboard while they're driving past. A person should be able to
read the promoter statement if they stop to examine the billboard.
Getting written authorisation for candidate and party signs
You can only put up signs promoting a party or candidate with their prior written consent. This
rule allows candidates and parties to decide who initiates advertising that encourages voters to
vote for them. They also need to know about the cost of signs that are up in the three months
before the general election as the cost of the signs that promote them count towards their
expense limits.
You don’t need written authorisation for advertising that encourages people not to vote for a
candidate or party.
Paying someone to put up election signs
You can only pay someone to put up an election sign on their property, if displaying signs is part
of their business.
This rule means people can’t pay members of the public or businesses to put up signs on their
land or property if they don’t usually charge for this service.
The rules when voting starts
You can’t display election signs within 10 metres of an advance voting place once voting starts.
All election signs need to be taken down or covered up by midnight on Friday, the day before
election day.
You can’t display election signs on election day.
Who should I contact if I have a question or want to make a complaint about election
signs?

Signs up in my area
Local Council
No promoter statement
Electoral Commission
Is this sign election advertising?
Electoral Commission
Signs up on election day
Electoral Commission
Content of election signs and the
Advertising
rules about truth, accuracy,
Standards Authority
advocacy and offensiveness

How you can get more involved | Elections
Elections.nz – How you can get more involved
Our democracy works better when all our communities are involved. You can take part in
several ways.
Have your say by voting
If you’re enrolled to vote, you get to have a say in general elections, local elections and
referendums. Every vote is counted and that means your vote matters. Elections are your
chance to have a say about who represents you on the issues that you care about.
It’s easy to enrol and vote.
Enrol, check, or update your details now
Help your community have a say
You can help your community by encouraging them to enrol and educating them about what’s
involved with voting. The more people that participate in our democracy, the stronger it will be.
Get posters and brochures for your community
Work in elections
Year round, we employ people in various roles with different focus areas. Areas such as
community engagement, policy and advice, project management, team leadership, and office
administration.  Casual roles come up regularly, especially for data entry.
Current vacancies
Get involved with a political party or start one
Every party operates differently, so if you want to get involved, contact the party you’re
interested in to find out how you can take part. You may be able to become a member,
volunteer your time or make a donation.
Find contacts in the Register of political parties
Parties can be unregistered or registered. However, only registered parties can contest the
party vote in a general election.
Interested in starting a political party?
Guidance and rules for starting a political party
Become a candidate
For a chance to represent your community in government, you can become a candidate in a
general election. You need to be selected and then nominated by the political party you belong
to, or you can stand as an independent electorate candidate.
If you want to stand as an independent candidate, you need to be:
•  a New Zealand citizen
•  enrolled on the general or Māori roll

•  nominated by two people who are enrolled in the electorate you wish to stand in.
Guidance and rules for candidates
If you want to stand as a candidate in a local election, contact your local council about their
candidate and nomination rules.
List of council maps and websites - Local Government New Zealand
Start a petition or have your say on our laws
There are lots of ways you can get involved in New Zealand’s democratic process. If you feel
strongly about an issue, you might want to:
•  start or sign a petition
•  seek a referendum
•  make a submission to a select committee on a law before Parliament.
The New Zealand Parliament website has useful information on ways you can have your say.
Have your say - New Zealand Parliament