Voting for Kāpiti Coast District Council and Community Boards begins
9 Sep 2025
Voting papers for this year’s local elections begin arriving in Kāpiti Coast letterboxes from today. Voters have until Saturday 11 October, 12 noon sharp, to decide who they’d like to represent them for the next three years.
In addition to Mayor, Districtwide Councillors and Community Board members, this year those on the Māori electoral roll will vote for candidates standing for the Kapiti Coast Māori ward, while those on the General electoral roll will vote for candidates standing for their General ward.
Kāpiti Coast local elections use the STV (single-transferable vote) system. This is a numbering system where voters indicate their preferred candidate with a 1, their second choice with a 2 and so on. Voters can vote for as many or as few as they like; following the instructions in their voting envelope clearly will ensure their vote is valid and counted.
Before casting their vote by 11 October, voters are encouraged to get to know their candidates better.
A Mayoral Debate will be held on Monday 22 September, 6.30-8.30pm, at Te Raukura ki Kāpiti, with all six mayoral candidates confirmed as attending. The debate will be livestreamed and available for viewing on Council’s website after the event.
The debate format includes Mayoral candidate speeches and a series of questions from moderator Sue Wells - a former Christchurch City Councillor, local government facilitator and Kāpiti Coast resident.
While no questions will be taken from the audience during the Mayoral Debate, all voters are also encouraged to attend Council’s Meet the Candidate sessions being held across the district from 22 September until 1 October.
Meet the Candidate session invites have been extended to all Mayoral, Districtwide and Ward Councillors, and Community Board candidates to present their candidacy for their area. Voters can attend at any time during the two-hour slots to ask the candidates questions.
This year, all voters will also be able to participate in a poll about the Māori ward. The poll will use the FPP (First Past the Post) system, where voters tick whether they’d like to see the Kapiti Coast Māori ward retained or removed for the 2028 and 2031 local elections. Regardless of the poll’s outcome, the Kapiti Coast Māori ward will be in place for the 2025–2028 triennium.
Ways to vote
Voting by NZ Post is free, quick, and easy. People are encouraged to post their votes by 7 October to ensure they’re received by the 11 October noon deadline. Alternatively, voting papers can be placed into ballot boxes at Council’s libraries and service centres during their opening hours.
Council Office on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu will be open until 7.30pm on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 October, and on the morning of 11 October. We will have a mobile voting booth operating from Tuesday 30 September until Friday 10 October.
If someone hasn’t enrolled before Friday 1 August, they’ll need to cast a ‘special vote’. Special voting documents can be requested by calling 0800 486 486 or from an electoral official at our Council Offices on Rimu Road, Paraparaumu from today. Electoral officers will be available to issue special votes at the Ōtaki library from 4 to 11 October during library opening hours. Dates, locations, and times are available on Council’s website.