Me pēhea te tū mai hei māngai mō te kōwhiringa pōti
How to become a candidate in the local elections
Who can be a candidate
To be a candidate for an elected member position, you must be:
You do not need any special qualifications. Elected members come from all backgrounds and walks of life.
To be effective you need a broad range of skills, such as:
- decision making and strategic thinking
- communication and community engagement
- relationship building and collaboration.
Visit
Skills and qualities you need to become an elected member for further information.
Video on why you should become a candidate
Read the full transcript of this video.
How to become a candidate
Nominations will open on 4 July 2025, but you can start preparing now:
Pay a nomination deposit
When filling in your nomination form between 4 July and 1 August 2025, you will need to pay a nomination deposit of $200.
This deposit applies to each election position you want to be a candidate for.
You should know
You do not need to live in the area you want to represent, but you will need to declare this in your candidate profile statement.
You need two people to nominate you. They must be over 18 and on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll within the area you want to represent as a candidate.
How to complete your nomination forms while overseas
If you are overseas for the entire nomination period, you can appoint one of your nominators to complete and return the nomination forms on your behalf.
This would involve:
- filling out the nomination form – including getting both nominator's details and signatures
- completing the candidate's profile statement and providing a photo
- paying the $200 nomination deposit
- providing a letter of authority signed by the candidate authorising the nomination (this letter can be prepared by the candidate before the nomination opens or it can be emailed from overseas).
You can also vote from overseas, visit
How and where to cast a special vote for more information.
You should know
We strongly recommend you submit your nomination forms early so that we can identify any potential problems for you before nominations close.
Get a copy of the Candidate handbook
Changes to election sign sites - July 2022
Auckland Transport has recently removed some sites from the list of approved election sign sites. This can happen when a site on the list is no longer appropriate for election signs – for example, a site on a park may now have a playground on it.
Check the updated
list of approved sites on the Auckland Transport website.
How many positions you can be elected for
You can be a candidate for:
- mayor
- a ward councillor
- a local board member.
If you are elected to more than one position, you will take the highest ranked position.
You can not be a candidate for more than one ward.
You can be a candidate for more than one local board but you can only be elected to one. If you are a candidate for more than one local board, you will need to state which one is your priority if you get elected to more than one.
You can also be a candidate for a licensing trust, if you live in the licensing trust area. You can only be a candidate for one licensing trust.
What candidates need to do
You should:
- find out what is important to your local community
- learn about Auckland's local government structure and the role of councillors, and local board members.
Visit
What is involved in being an elected member for further information.
Getting votes
One of the main reasons people do not vote in local elections is that they do not know enough about the candidates and their views.
To run a successful campaign, you need to let local residents know the key issues you support within the community.
Tips for connecting with people and getting more votes
- Use social media channels like Facebook and Twitter for wider reach.
- Door knock, address public meetings and talk to the public in shopping malls or weekend markets.
- Look for interview opportunities on the radio, local newspapers or magazines.
- Advertise your views in newspapers or on billboards.
When you can begin campaigning
You can start campaigning any time before the election, but you must declare any money you spend on your campaign.
Regulations for campaigning
There are regulations around campaigning, including:
- how much you can spend
- how and when you can display signage.
For full details, visit Rules for election signs and The Local Electoral Act 2001.
More information about becoming a candidate
Email the Electoral Officer at info@electionservices.co.nz for more information about becoming a candidate in 2025.
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