Local elections, held every three years, are an opportunity for residents and ratepayers to vote for a mayor and councillors. The next local election will be held on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
A binding poll in relation to Māori Wards will also be held alongside the election.
The poll will be held alongside the 2025 local body elections, with voting closing on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
While the existing Māori wards will remain in place for the 2025 election, the outcome of the poll is binding and will determine Māori ward arrangements for the 2028 and 2031 local elections.
- If the poll outcome is ‘yes’, then the Māori wards will remain in place for the 2028 and 2031 elections.
- If the poll outcome is ‘no’, then the Māori wards cannot be re-established for at least the 2028 and 2031 elections.
Regardless of the poll outcome, the Council is required to complete a representation review at least once every six years. The last review was conducted in 2021/2022, meaning the next Council representation review will take place in 2027/28.
- If the 2025 poll supports Māori wards, the 2027/2028 representation review must include Māori ward(s) in the arrangements.
- If the 2025 poll does not support Māori wards, the 2027/2028 representation review will not include Māori ward(s).
Elections 2025 Timetable
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Now - Monday, 4 August | Enrol! From Monday, 4 August anyone who is entitled to vote and who is not enrolled as an elector, or whose details are incorrectly recorded on the roll, will have to cast a 'special vote'. |
| Friday, 4 July | Nominations open for candidates. Nominations have to be sent to the electoral officer for the council, district health board or licensing trust. Rolls open for inspection at council offices and other sites locally. |
| Monday, 4 August | Nominations close at 12 noon. Rolls close. After this date, anyone who is entitled to vote and who is not enrolled as an elector, or whose details are incorrectly recorded on the roll, will have to cast a 'special vote'. |
| Tuesday, 9 September | Voting opens. Voting documents delivered to households. Electors can post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted. |
| Satruday, 11 October | Polling day - The voting documents must be at the council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results (i.e. once all 'ordinary' votes are counted) will be available as soon as possible afterwards. |
| 16-29 October (or as soon as practicable) | Official results (including all valid ordinary and special votes) declared. |
Enrol
Whakauru
Learn about how to enrol so you can vote in the Whakatāne District election.
Who can enrol to vote
You can enrol to vote as a resident if you:
- are 18 years or older,
- are a New Zealand Citizen or permanent resident,
- have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.
If you're enrolled to vote for the parliamentary elections, then you’re automatically enrolled for Council elections too.
Enrolling on the General or Māori electoral roll
Visit vote.nz, email enrol@vote.nz, call 0800 36 76 56, or freetext your name and address to 3676 to enrol to vote or to update your enrolment details.
The Māori Electoral Option is a choice for Māori about which electoral roll to be on: the Māori roll or the general roll.
Visit vote.nz to find out more, and to choose either the Māori roll or the general roll »
How to enrol if you are a ratepayer for the Whakatāne District but you don’t live here
If you own property in the district but live elsewhere you may be able to enrol as a non-resident ratepayer elector and vote in both areas.
Simply download an Enrolment Form for Ratepayer Electors , fill it in and email it to ratepayer@electionservices.co.nz or post it to Electoral Officer, PO Box 5135, Victoria Street West, Auckland 1142.