Wairoa residents and ratepayers are urged to make their vote count by voting in the 2025 Local Elections, which are now open.

Voting papers have started appearing in letter boxes and are expected to be delivered up until Monday, 22 September.

In the last election, Wairoa’s voter turnout was in the top 10 of New Zealand, with the final voter return 53.2%, above the national average, and higher than the 2019 election of 51.4%.

Nominations for the Wairoa District Council election have seen 20 candidates throw their hats into the ring, with four people nominated for the mayoral position and nine each for the three General Ward seats and the three Māori Ward seats.

Profiles and lists of confirmed candidates are available on the Council website at www.wairoadc.govt.nz

Voters should cast their selections and post or drop their votes into local ballot bins at the Council office in Queen Street and at New World supermarket, before voting closes at 12 noon, Saturday 11 October.After October 7, it is best to deliver your votes to the ballot bins to ensure they arrive on time and are not held up in the post.

People need to check their enrolment details to ensure they receive their voting papers at the correct address. If you are not enrolled, take action now by heading to the Electoral Commission New Zealand’s website to enrol or update your details online.

If you haven’t received your voting papers by Monday, 22 September, enrolled after 1 August, or haven’t received your papers and are going to be away, you may need to cast a Special Vote. Just contact the Council or call into the Queen Street office, and staff will get you sorted.

Don’t forget, a person can apply to enrol as either a residential or ratepayer elector right up to and including Friday, 10 October 2025 – the day before the close of voting.

15 September 2025

Back to COVID-19