Vote.
From turning on a tap or flushing the loo, to playing in a park, splashing in a pool, running a business or building a home, Council decisions shape how we all live, work and play on the Kāpiti Coast.
Your vote helps decide who will make those big calls on your behalf. Voting is as easy as 1, 2, 3, but before you rank the candidates, take the time to get to know them. Come along to our Meet the Candidate events and check out the Mayoral Debate to help you choose the district’s next leader.
Your voting papers will arrive with a candidate booklet. The booklet lists everyone standing for election, grouped by the position they’re standing for. Your voting paper will only show the elections you can vote in, and only the candidates you’re eligible to vote for.
If you are not enrolled or need to cast a special vote, learn what to do next.
We have 87 people vying for 31 positions. A record number of candidates deserves a record voter turnout! Voting papers for the 2025 local elections will be sent to enrolled voters from Tuesday 9 September 2025.
You have until Saturday 11 October 12 noon sharp to cast your vote.
Voting is as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Kāpiti Coast District Council elections use the STV (single-transferable votes) system to elect the Mayor, Districtwide and Ward Councillors, and Community Board members. This is numbering system where you indicate your preferred candidate with a 1, your second choice with a 2 and so on. You can vote for as many or as few as you like; please follow the instructions in your voting envelope clearly to ensure your vote is valid and counted.
Casting your vote.
Voting by post is the way to go if you can – it’s easy, quick and free but ensure your votes are in the post by 7 October. Alternatively, you can drop your voting papers into one of our ballot boxes at our libraries and service centres or Council’s main office on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu during their opening hours. We will also have a mobile voting booth at some locations to help make it easy for people to cast their vote.
Ōtaki
Tuesday 30 September, 12-2.30pm
Main St
Tuesday 30 September, 3-5pm
Haruātai Park, Mill Road, Ōtaki
Sunday 5 October, 9am-12noon
58 Main Highway, opposite New World
Friday 10 October,10am-1.30pm
58 Main Highway, opposite New World
Paekākāriki
Sunday 6 October, 1-3pm
Outside St Peter’s Village Hall, Beach Rd
Wednesday 8 October, 4-6pm
Outside St Peter’s Village Hall, Beach Rd
Thursday 9 October, 11am-1pm
utside St Peter’s Village Hall, Beach Rd
Te Horo
Friday 10 October, 2-3pm
Outside Te Horo Hall, School Rd
Waikanae
Tuesday 7 October, 10-11am
Marae Lane/Ngaio Road carpark
Tuesday 7 October, 11am-1pm
Marae Lane (outside Whakarongotai Marae)
Tuesday 7 October,1-3pm
Marae Lane/Ngaio Road carpark
Raumati
Thursday 9 October, 2-4pm
Raumati Village, Raumati Road
Māori ward.
As a result of Council establishing a Māori ward, this year those on the Māori electoral roll will vote for candidates standing for the Kapiti Coast Māori ward. Similarly, those on the general electoral roll will vote for candidates standing for general ward seats. So, same vote, just different wards.
Māori ward poll.
Law changes mean Council must hold a referendum (poll) on the Māori ward. Voters on either roll can participate in this poll. The poll will use the FPP (First Past the Post) system, where you tick whether you wish to keep the Māori ward or remove the Māori ward. The outcome of the poll will determine whether the Māori ward remains in place for the 2028 and 2031 local elections. The poll is binding. Regardless of the outcome of the poll, the Kapiti Coast Māori ward will be in place for the 2025–2028 triennium with a Māori ward councillor seated at the Council table.
Who can vote
Anyone over the age of 18 who has enrolled to vote can vote in the local elections.
If you’re enrolled on either the general or Māori electoral roll, you're automatically enrolled to vote in local elections where you live and will receive mail from the Electoral Commission containing your confirmation of enrolment and voting pack.
People who don't live in Kāpiti but own property (non-resident ratepayer electors) can also vote in local elections, but they have to enrol first and do not receive automatic mail from the Electoral Commission. Find out more at Enrol.
We use the STV (single-transferable vote) electoral system for Kāpiti Coast District Council elections.
Single Transferable vote uses a preference system rather than a tick system. When you complete your voting documents, you will need to remember it is a number not a tick. You don’t need to number every box, just the candidates you prefer in the order you prefer.
You still only have one vote, but instead of only selecting (ticking) one candidate, you can indicate your preferences for all the candidates and it can be transferred if your most preferred candidate is so popular they don't need all their votes or is not popular at all with other voters. For example, under STV, you would write “1” next to the name of your favourite candidate, “2” next to your second favourite candidate and so on.
The number of vacancies and votes determines the quota a candidate must reach to be elected. The formula for deciding the quota is total number of valid votes, divided by the number of vacancies plus one.
If you are eligible to vote but didn’t enrol or update your details before Friday 1 August, you will need to cast a ‘special vote’.
Special votes also have to be cast by people that:
- didn't receive their voting forms in their letter boxes for any reason (may not have been enrolled at the right address, or something went wrong with mail delivery)
- lost or damaged their voting form
- enrolled or updated their details after 1 August 2025 (birthday after that date, or missed the cut off)
- are on the unpublished roll.
Casting a special vote involves completing a special vote form and a declaration, and returning them together by noon 11 October. They can be posted if there is time, or hand delivered to a vote collection point at one of our libraries or service centres.
Special voting documents can be requested by completing this online special voting document request form, calling 0800 486 486 or from an electoral official at our Council Offices on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu.
Special voting locations
- Civic Offices on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu during opening hours, and until 7.30pm on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 October
- Ōtaki Library during opening hours (4–11 October – closed on the Sunday 5 October)
- Paraparaumu Library 10am–2pm on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October
- Civic Offices, Paraparaumu, 9am–12pm on Saturday 11 October
Also see above mobile voting locations.
Local elections in New Zealand are done by postal vote, with voting packs posted out between Tuesday 9 September and Monday 22 September 2025.
If you are outside of New Zealand during the voting period (9 September to 11 October 2025), you have two options:
- ask someone to forward your voting pack to your overseas address
- email [email protected] to request a special voting pack. Include:
- the residential address where you are enrolled to vote
- the overseas address where you want the pack sent.
Keep in mind how long it might take for mail to reach you and get back to New Zealand. Your completed voting pack must arrive to us before 12 noon on Saturday 11 October 2025.
Late votes will not be counted and local election voting papers cannot be downloaded electronically.
- Election Services: Kāpiti Factsheet 2025 [PDF 267 KB]
- Election Services: Frequently Asked Questions [PDF 777 KB]