With less than two weeks to go until election day, just under 26% of voters have had their say.

As of yesterday (Monday, September 29), a total of 25.9% of 5695 electors had their votes registered.

Of this amount, 26.6% of the voters were registered with the General Ward, and 25.1% were registered on the Māori ward.

In the last election, Wairoa’s voter turnout ranked in the top 10 in New Zealand, with a final voter turnout of 53.2%, surpassing the national average and exceeding the 2019 election's 51.4%.

Voting in the 2025 election closes at midday on Saturday, October 11, with preliminary results expected to be released during the afternoon of the same day.

Wairoa residents and ratepayers are encouraged to make their vote count by casting their vote in the 2025 Local Elections.

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 have received their voting papers via postal delivery. Voters should cast their selections and post or drop their votes into local ballot bins at the Council office on Queen Street and at the New World supermarket, before voting closes at 12 noon on 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, 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.

30 September 2025

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