Local elections in New Zealand

Local elections are held every three years ending on the second Saturday in October in New Zealand to elect local government politicians using postal voting.

Background

edit

Elections for the district and city councils and regional councils of New Zealand have a fixed election date, unlike general elections. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001,[1] elections must be held on the "second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001. The last local body elections were held on 8 October 2022. The next elections will be held on 11 October 2025. Local elections are mostly organised by the councils themselves, with other organisations (for example the Electoral Commission, and the Department of Internal Affairs) having peripheral roles. The elections determine the membership of district, city, and regional councils. In some places, licensing trusts, community boards and local boards are also voted for.[2] Elections are held by postal voting.[2]

Under New Zealand law, those who are eligible to enrol (18 year of age, lived in New Zealand continuously for at least one year at some time, and are either a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident) must do so. People can vote in the area where they live, and it is up to voters to decide which address they consider their home (e.g. a student may choose to enrol where they live during term time, or their parents' place if they go home during the holidays).[3] If a person owns property in which they do not live, they can also apply to be put onto the ratepayer roll for local elections. That is, an individual may be eligible to vote in more than one voting area for local elections.[2]

Mayoral elections

edit

Auckland City

edit
19191921192319251927192919311933193519381941194419471950195319561957 (by-election) • 195919621965196819711974197719801983198619891990 (by-election) • 199219951998200120042007

Auckland

edit

20102013201620192022

Christchurch

edit
187618781881189519331935193619381941194419471950195319561959196219651968197119741977198019831986198919921995199820012004200720102013201620192022

Dunedin

edit
1865192919311933193519381941194419471950195319561959196219651968197119741977198019831986198919921995199820012004200720102013201620192022

Far North District

edit

Hamilton

edit

1976 (by-election) • 2013201620192022

Invercargill

edit
18711874187618771878187918801882188318841885188618871889189018921893189418951896189818991901190319051907190819091912191319141915191719191921192319271929193119331938194419471953196219651968197119741977198019831986198919921993 (by-election) • 199519982004200720102013201620192022

Lower Hutt

edit
1921192319251927192919311933193519381941194419471950195319561959196219651968197119741977198019831986198919921995199820012004200720102013201620192022

Nelson

edit

20162019

Napier

edit

19172022

Porirua

edit
196219651968197119741977198019831983198919921995199820012004200720102013201620192022

Rangitikei

edit

201020132016

Rotorua

edit

20192022

Tauranga

edit

201620192024

Upper Hutt

edit

201620192022

Wellington

edit
187518761901190319041905190719091910191119121913191519171919192119231925192719291931193319351938194119441947195019531956195919621965196819711974197719801986198919921995199820012004200720102013201620192022

Whangārei

edit

Local elections by region

edit

Auckland Supercity

edit

Auckland city

edit

Hamilton

edit

Rangitikei

edit

Wellington City

edit

Porirua

edit

Lower Hutt

edit

Christchurch

edit

Dunedin

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Local Electoral Act 2001 No 35 (as at 24 January 2009), Public Act". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "What are local elections?". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Enrol and Vote for the First Time". Electoral Commission. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
edit