Our next local election is on Saturday, 8 October 2022. This year sees the inclusion of Māori wards in the Council structure and therefore the inclusion of Māori ward candidates.
The elections are held every three years by vote. Whakatāne District Council decided to use the First Past the Post (FPP) voting system for this election. Under FPP the candidate with the most votes wins. Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions - (PDF, 446 KB) for more information.
Nominations have now closed.
All nominations have been listed on the Elections 2022 - Nominations page.
Video via YouTube: How to stand as a candidate in the local elections
He Pūrongo Kōwhiriā 2022
Pre-Election Report 2022
The purpose of a Pre-Election Report is to provide financial and non-financial information to promote public discussion about the key issues facing Council. It does not cover all the opportunities, issues, and challenges, but highlights the main ones. It demonstrates the range and complexity of the work Council does.
The report covers finances over the past three years before the 2022 Council election plus forecasts for the following three years and major projects currently happening and planned.
Download the 2022 Pre-Election Report - (PDF, 4 MB)
Detailed maps of ward areas:
He kōrero mā ngā kaitono pōti
Information for candidates
The 2022 election is an opportunity to run as a candidate for the Whakatāne District Council. Learn how, as an elected member, you can help make decisions that shape the development of the Whakatāne region and build strong local communities.
You must be enrolled to vote to be a candidate in local elections.
Me pēhea te tū hei kaitono pōti
How to become a candidate
Complete a nomination form before Friday, 12 August 2022. Get two people to nominate you - they must be over 18 and enrolled to vote in the area you wish to be a candidate for.
Pay a nomination deposit of $200 incl. GST - you may get a refund, depending on how many votes you receive.
Candidate nominations have now closed.
Ko wai ka āhei ki te tū hei kaitono pōti?
Who can be a candidate?
To be a candidate for an elected member position, you must be:
- a New Zealand citizen
- over 18 years old
- enrolled on the electoral roll
You don't need any special qualifications. Elected members come from all backgrounds and walks of life.
To be effective you will need to bring a broad range of skills to the role:
- Quality decision making and strategic thinking
- Cultural awareness
- Leadership
- Communication and community engagement
- Relationship building and collaboration
Me pēhea te tū mai hei māngai mō te Takiwā Māori?
Who can stand for election in a Māori Ward?
To be eligible to stand for a Māori ward, a candidate must be:
- A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony); and
- Enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere in New Zealand); and
- Nominated by two electors whose names appear on the electoral roll within the respective area that a candidate is standing for.
As such, candidates in Māori wards do not have to be of Māori descent.
Candidates cannot stand for general and Māori wards at the same time.
For more information on Māori wards, check out the Taituarā Information booklet.
Ki te whiwhi pōti
Getting votes
Lack of knowledge about the candidates and their views is consistently reported as one of the main reasons people don't vote in local elections.
To run a successful campaign, you need to let local residents know the key issues you stand for within the community.
Ngā ture Kōwhiringa pōti
Regulations for campaigning
There are regulations around campaigning, including:
How much can a candidate spend on their campaign?
There is a limit on what you can spend on your campaign and it relates to the population of the area you are standing for.
| Local government area population | Expenditure limit |
| Up to 4,999 | $3,500 |
| 5,000 - 9,999 | $7,000 |
| 10,000 - 19,999 | $14,000 |
| 20,000 - 39,999 | $20,000 |
| 40,000 - 59,999 | $30,000 |
| 60,000 - 79,999 | $40,000 |
| 80,000 - 99,999 | $50,000 |
Local and General Election Signage Rules
The following rules apply when using signage to promote your campaign in the Whakatāne District.
- The maximum period of time during which a sign, poster or placard may be displayed is from 12.01 am Saturday 13 August 2022 to midnight Tuesday 11 October 2022
- Election signs must display the true name and physical address (place of residence or business) of the person authorising them.
- Signs can be up to 3m2 in area.
- Sign structures must be competently constructed and comply with the NZ Building Code, where necessary.
- Signs must only be located on private property.
- Landowner permission is required for all signs.
- No signs are permitted on Council roads, State Highways, Council reserves or any other Council property.
- Council staff will remove signs from Council roads and property. NZTA staff will remove signs from State Highways.
- Signs must not obstruct driver visibility along the road, at intersections or driveways, or at a railway level crossing.
- Signs must not be placed within 15 metres of a traffic safety or directional sign.
- Signs located next to a State Highway must have a minimum lettering height of 120mm where the speed limit is less than 70km/h; and 160mm where the speed limit is 70km/h or greater.
- Signs must not be rotating, flashing, reflective or illuminated.
- Signs must be well maintained. Council staff will remove signs that are poorly maintained and which may present a danger to road users or the public generally.
Visit the Elections 2022 page for more information.
He aha ngā mahi a te mema pōti
What's involved in being an elected member?
Elected members play a varied role in the day-to-day running of our rohe/district, so no two days are the same.
Being an elected member is a busy job that often involves meetings, events and speaking with community members outside of normal business hours. Flexibility and the ability to prioritise and manage time effectively are essential. This includes balancing a high volume of reading, paperwork and emails with a schedule of meetings and public commitments.
Consequently, the mayor is considered a full-time job and councillors and community board members are generally considered part-time jobs.
Here are some typical scenarios of the type of work elected members do.
As an elected member, you will:
- make decisions that will help define the future for our communities
- help Whakatāne grow and prosper
- decide how to meet the current and future needs for infrastructure, public services and regulations
A day in the life of an elected member
On any given day, an elected member may:
- read and prepare for the upcoming week's meetings
- vote in various decision-making meetings and committees
- engage with the public to hear their views
- attend events like public meetings, school prizegivings, citizenship ceremonies, or the opening of a new park or cycleway
- represent the council at community and cultural events
- take part in community activities
On top of this, there will be responsibilities that relate to your specific role.
Mayor
On a typical day, the Mayor of Whakatāne might:
- give an interview on breakfast radio
- give the opening address at a local conference
- receive a briefing from staff on a new council initiative
- meet with police and councillors to discuss community safety
- read reports before chairing a Council or committee meeting
- attend a fundraiser for a community group
Councillors
On a typical day, a councillor might:
- attend a Council or committee meeting
- speak to residents as part of a consultation about a new bylaw
- attend a community group meeting
- talk to media about plans for an upcoming Council project
Community board members
Community boards are an advocate for the interests of their communities on Council matters. They make decisions on grant funding for local community initiatives and help build strong communities.
They identify and communicate the views of local people on district decisions and policies and represent the board within the community and at a district and sometimes regional or national level.
On a typical day, a Community board member might:
- attend the local board's meeting
- meet with a community group to discuss how to obtain a community grant
- engage community members to discuss priorities for the community
- workshop options with council employees to create a new local reserve or review a local bylaw
- attend the monthly meeting of a residents' association
- respond to media queries.
Ngā takohanga
What to expect
Being an elected member at any level is a serious commitment, even though your responsibilities and hours will vary according to the office you represent and serve.
It is also a public role and will put you in the spotlight. You will be called upon to speak at meetings and events, and the media may ask for your views on certain topics.
If you are thinking to become a candidate, you should consider how you might balance the requirements and responsibilities of the role with other commitments in your life.