Race to win votes heats up on two fronts

Expect to see the race to win votes in the local election heating up in this final week, but there’s a parallel race underway in Northland – a competition to see which district gets the highest voter turnout.

A meme campaign by Northland councils is using characters from popular films like Boy as the backdrop to compare statistics of voters for Far North, Kaipara, and Whangārei district councils as well as Northland Regional Council (NRC) to boost voter rivalry (and voter turnout) in the region.

The memes show Kaipara District Council (KDC) leading the vote tally all of last week, followed by FNDC, NRC, and Whangārei District Council (WDC).

As of Monday 6 October, KDC was still leading the pack with voter turnout at 36.4 per cent, NRC rose to second spot at 28.8 per cent, FNDC was at 28.7 per cent and WDC at 26.8 per cent.

Voting in the local election closes this Saturday at midday, so if you haven’t voted already – do it now! FNDC candidate profiles and videos are available on our Speak Up and Vote website.

The last chance to post your voting papers in a NZ Post box ends today Tuesday 7 October, but if you miss that deadline you can still place your vote in a ballot box found at one of our eight council service centres or any of the Mobile Ballot Box Tour locations.

Only three ballot box locations will be open on the final day Saturday 11 October (until midday) – at our Kerikeri, Kaikohe, and Kaitāia service centres.

Voters who have not received their voting packs, or who are not enrolled, can still have their say by casting a special vote at any one of our eight service centres or Mobile Ballot Box Tour locations. Don’t leave it to the last moment.

You can also complete a special vote if you have lost or damaged your voting pack, if you are on the unpublished roll, or if enrolled or updated your details after 1 August.

A special vote requires a declaration to be signed by the voter and witnessed, if you have a photo ID please bring it with you.

Make your vote count in the local election.

This week our mobile ballot boxes will be at these locations.

Bay of Islands–Whangaroa Ward

• Tuesday 7 October – He Whare Awhina, Takou Bay, 10am to 11am
• Tuesday 7 October – Te Tapui Marae, Matauri Bay, 12pm to 1pm
• Tuesday 7 October – Te Kohanga Reo o Matangirau, Whangaroa, 2pm to 3pm
• Wednesday 8 October – Haruru Falls, 342 Puketona Road, 11am to 1pm
• Wednesday 8 October – Waitangi, southern end of the one way bridge, 2pm to 4pm
• Friday 10 October – Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Taumārere, 10am to 5pm

Kaikohe–Hokianga Ward

• Tuesday 7 October – Ngāwhā Innovation & Enterprise Park, 5449A SH12 Kaikohe, 10am to 12pm
• Wednesday 8 October – Umawera School, 9am to 12pm
• Wednesday 8 October – Broadwood Area School, 1pm to 3.30pm
• Thursday 9 October – Kaikohe Night Market, 65 Broadway, 2pm to 7pm

Te Hiku Ward

• Tuesday 7 October – Kaitāia Town, 11am to 2pm
• Tuesday 7 October – Kaitāia Pop Up , 3pm to 5pm
• Wednesday 8 October – Te Kao Pop Up, 11am to 2pm
• Wednesday 8 October – Pukenui shops, 3pm to 5pm
• Thursday 9 October – Coopers Beach, 11am to 2pm
• Thursday 9 October – Oruaiti School, 3pm to 5pm

• Friday 10 October – Kaitāia Pak n Save 11am to 2pm
• Friday 10 October – Taipā, 3pm to 5pm

Anyone 18 or older that is a resident, or a ratepayer, in the district is eligible to vote.

Tau ake ki te hoe, we are ready are you? If you don’t vote, you’re not in the boat.

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Below -  FNDC election voting progress in 2025 compared to 2022