2025 Local Body Elections
It’s local Council elections year! We’ll be holding “Meet the Candidates” events in August and September!
Contact us if you have suggestions for things that you believe are important for candidates to consider this year, or if you have questions for the candidates, including the Mayoral candidates.
2025 timeline for the Council election
Local elections are held every 3 years - don’t miss the boat!
In Wellington City, residents and other ratepayers have the chance to vote for a Mayor and Council, community boards, and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Voting is done by postal vote. Voting papers will be posted out on Tuesday 9 September and voting will close at 12noon on Saturday 11 October. Please make sure you can help shape the future of the city you want it to be by checking that you are enrolled, and then by voting when the time comes.
The key dates are:
By June 2025: Do you want to stand?
June-August 2025: Are you enrolled / get enrolled
Friday 4 July 2025: candidate nominations open, roll opens for public inspection
Friday 1 August 2025: candidate nominations close at 12 noon, roll closes
Tuesday 9 September 2025: voting documents posted out, voting opens
Saturday 11 October 2025: voting closes at 12 noon
Saturday 11 October 2025: preliminary results available
Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 October 2025: declaration of final results
Helpful information frm the Electorial Commission
How do you get on the electoral roll?
You can enrol or update your details online (including address and electoral roll type for Māori) at vote.nz using your New Zealand Driver Licence, New Zealand Passport, or verified RealMe Identity.
Alternatively, you can fill out and return the attached enrolment update form by uploading it to us here.
You can also get a form sent to you in the post with a return envelope here.
For any help with enrolling or updating, our phone number is 0800 36 76 56 or email enquiries@elections.govt.nz.
You can check your eligibility to enrol here: Are you eligible to enrol and vote? | Vote NZ
How do you know if you are on the electoral roll?
You can check your enrolment details at the this page, note that you'll need to enter in the last NZ residential address that we have on file for you as well as your full name and date of birth: Enrol or update online | Vote NZ
How close to the election day for the local Government elections can you get onto the electoral roll, or change your address?
The last date to enrol and update your details is Friday 10 October until 11:59pm, the day before Election Day Saturday 11 October 2025. We must have received your online enrolment/update or Get Ready To Vote paper form before this cut-off time.
Note that electors of Māori descent cannot change their electoral roll type (between the general roll and Māori roll) in the 3-months before Election Day. The last date to change roll types this year is Thursday 10 July until 11:59pm, we must have receive the enrolment update or enrolment update paper form before this cut-off time. Māori new to the roll can still choose their roll type up until the Friday 10 October cut-off above.
How does special voting work if you missed out during the voting period?
If you enrol or change your address after If you enrol after 1 August, you will need to cast a ‘special vote’. You can contact your council Electoral Officer here to arrange this: Electoral officers - Vote 25 | Pōti 25
The Electoral Commission administers the electoral roll that the councils use, but they run their elections themselves. The Commission can't assist with any voting enquiries but - if you want more information - you may want to try contacting their local election providers if you can't find the answer on the local elections website: electionz.com - voting made easy
You can contact Contact Us – Election Services if you have any questions.
And enrolment resources from the Commission’s website are available here: Get brochures, posters and forms | Elections
