Nominate or Stand

Local government only succeeds if people who care for their communities are prepared to serve and stand for office. As an elected member of Council or a community board, you’ll be making a positive difference for people and communities for today and into the future.

This year there will be a Māori ward alongside the general ward. Voters on the general electoral roll will vote in their general ward, while those on the Māori electoral roll will vote in the Māori ward. 

The process for becoming a candidate in either ward is the same.

Will you stand?

The nomination period for the local elections opens later in the year, but it is never too early to start thinking about standing for Council or a community board.

As an elected member, you'll need to:

• be involved in community engagement with your council
• commit to ensuring all voices are heard
• work to build and protect a culture of inclusion and belonging.

You'll also need to demonstrate your commitment to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi – The Treaty of Waitangi.

Good governance balances short- and long-term responsibilities. Your role will be to focus on the overall performance of Council, such as how it meets community expectations and aspirations, fulfils statutory obligations and looks after assets. 

If you are uncertain about running and want more information about what it's like to be an elected member, read about our job in a nutshell.

Thinking of standing?

What you need to know

You can read up on the election process in the new 2025 Candidate Information Handbook [PDF 12.34 MB], which provides loads of information for anyone thinking of standing.

The handbook covers everything from the electoral system that will be used (single transferable vote – STV), to rules around campaigning and elections signs, to what is involved in the induction and inauguration process after the election and everything in between.

Our electoral officer and officials will also be offering opportunities to hear from them directly at candidate information sessions in July, which will be held on the following dates:

• Online webinar: Wednesday 9 July 2025, 5:30pm (attendance available via Zoom)
• Paraparaumu: Saturday 19 July 2025, 10am and 2pm, Council Chambers, Ground Floor, 175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu

There are also some great resources available for prospective candidates, including Local Government New Zealand’s pre-election learning which is available online through its Ākona platform.

There you will find short videos on the structure, roles and funding of local government, and modules on what is involved in the life of an elected member.

Making a nomination

If you want to stand for Council or a community board you will need two voters to nominate you by signing the nomination form. The two voters must:

• live in the ward or community board area you want to stand for
• be enrolled to vote.

Candidate nominations open from 4 July 2025 and close 1 August 2025 at 12 noon.

All nominations needed to be received by Council at noon, 1 August – this deadline can't be extended, as it's set by law. 

The nomination process involves: 

• Completing an official nomination form and sending it to the Council’s electoral officer. You can request the nomination form at Council’s main office in Paraparaumu, or access it online from 4 July. 
• Nominations from two enrolled voters. Candidates cannot nominate themselves, and people who nominate candidates must be over 18 years old and enrolled to vote in the area the candidate is planning to stand.
• Candidates must consent to their nomination going forward.
• A $200 deposit must be paid, which may be refunded depending on election results. 
• Candidates must be New Zealand citizens.

Staying safe in the online world

The free to lead toolkit can support women with a public profile or who use online spaces as part of their mahi, and their employers, gain practical tools and strategies to act against instances of online harm. 

The toolkit includes two practical modules and a powerful video series, Beyond the Keyboard, featuring seven high-profile New Zealand women sharing their real experiences of navigating the online world.

While this toolkit was designed for women who have a public profile, the guidance in this module can be helpful to anyone navigating the online world.

 Factsheet, FAQs and handbook