Candidate nominations open for Local Election 2025

Potential candidates interested in standing in October’s local body elections have four weeks to submit a nomination form, starting from today (Friday 4 July).

A candidate nomination form needs to be lodged as soon as possible by those interested in standing to allow time for information to be checked and possible technical issues to be resolved. There are different nominations forms depending on the ward a candidate intends standing in. Each potential candidate must be nominated on the correct nomination paper.

Any candidate standing for local body elections must be a New Zealand citizen, over 18 years old, and be on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll. They must also be nominated by two people who are enrolled on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll in the area the candidate intends to stand in.

Our Local-Elections-2025 website has a number of essential resources for potential candidates, information about who is eligible to stand, and nomination forms. The Candidate Information Handbook is also on the website, which is a thorough guide through the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of being a candidate.

Roles to be filled in the Far North District Council in the October local elections are:

• Mayor
• Councillors (10)
  • Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Ward (3)
  • Kaikohe-Hokianga General Ward (1)
  • Te Hiku General Ward (2)
  • Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward (4)
• Community Board members (19)
  • Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board (7)
  • Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board (6)
  • Te Hiku Community Board (6)

If you are a thinking about standing, please complete and submit your nominations as soon as possible. You can do that online after creating an account in the online portal.

Printed nomination forms are also available during normal business hours from council service centres in Kaikohe, Kaitāia, Kerikeri (Procter Library), Kawakawa, Kāeo, Ōpononi (isite), Paihia Library, and Rāwene.

The candidate nomination period closes at midday on Friday 1 August.

A public list of candidates who have completed their nominations will be made available on the Local-Elections-2025 website and updated daily from Monday 7 July. Communities interested in hosting a ‘meet the candidate’ event can find contact details of candidates who have made their details public. If you are hosting an event for all mayoral, councillor or community board candidates please contact elections@fndc.govt.nz to discuss promoting your event on our website.

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Ka rite te mita o tō kaunihera ki a koe, ko te āhua hei māngai māu? Me whai tuara koe hei kaitono. Tirohia tēnei ataata mo ngā whakawhānuitanga.

Will your council sound like you, think like you, represent you? Standing in a local election takes courage. Watch this video to find out more.