Notice of 2025 Triennial Local Authority Elections and Poll

NOTICE OF 2025 TRIENNIAL LOCAL AUTHORITY ELECTIONS AND POLL

The following elections and poll will be held by postal vote on Saturday 11 October 2025.

ŌTOROHANGA DISTRICT COUNCIL

• Election of the mayor
• Election of two councillors for the Kāwhia-Tihiroa Ward
• Election of one councillor for the Kio Kio-Korakonui Ward
• Election of two councillors for the Ōtorohanga Ward
• Election of two councillors for the Rangiātea Māori Ward
• Election of one councillor for the Waipā Ward
• Election of one councillor for the Wharepūhunga Ward
• Election of three members for the Kāwhia subdivision of the Kāwhia Community Board
• Election of one member for the Aotea subdivision of the Kāwhia Community Board
• Election of four members for the Ōtorohanga Community Board
• Candidate names will be listed in fully random order on the voting papers.

In addition to the above elections a Poll will be held to confirm whether Ōtorohanga District Council electors wish to keep or remove the Māori ward as part of Ōtorohanga District Council’s representation structure. The outcome of the poll is binding and will determine whether a Māori Ward will be retained for the Ōtorohanga District Council elections in 2028 and 2031.

Nominations

Nominations for the listed positions open on Friday 4 July 2025 and must be made on the appropriate nomination form for each position. Nomination forms and a candidate information handbook can be found either on the Ōtorohanga District Council website, or by request to the electoral officer via the contact options listed below. Completed nomination documents must be received by the electoral officer no later than 12 noon on Friday 1 August 2025. Each nomination must be accompanied by a deposit of $200 incl GST, payable by eftpos, cash or online banking (see nomination form for requirements).

Candidates are encouraged to submit a candidate profile statement and colour photograph with their nomination, for sending out with voting documents to electors. The requirements for profile statements and photos are set out in the candidate handbook which is available with the nomination forms. All nomination documents must be lodged at the same time.

Electoral Rolls

Preliminary electoral rolls for these elections can be inspected at the following locations during office hours from Friday 4 July 2025 to Friday 1 August 2025.

•  Ōtorohanga District Council, 17 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga
• Ōtorohanga District Library, 27 Turongo Street, Ōtorohanga
• Kāwhia Public Library, Pouewe Street, Kāwhia

Electors may enrol or amend their enrolment details on the residential electoral roll by contacting the Electoral Commission:

• Online at www.vote.nz

• By texting your name and address to 3676, calling 0800 36 76 56, or by emailing [email protected] to ask for a form to be sent to you.

Updates to the preliminary electoral roll close at 5pm on Friday 1 August 2025.

You can still enrol after this time; however, you will need to cast a special vote. Locations and hours for community voting sessions will be published closer to the voting period. 

If you are of Māori descent, you may change between the Māori and General electoral roll for this election up until Thursday 10 July 2025. 

Applications for registration as a ratepayer elector are to be made on the non-resident ratepayer elector enrolment form available wherever copies of the electoral rolls are displayed and must be returned to the Ōtorohanga District Council electoral officer before 5pm Friday 1 August 2025. Online applications for ratepayer elector registration can also be made through the non-resident ratepayer portal: www.electionz.com/ratepayer

Warwick Lampp

Electoral Officer – Ōtorohanga District Council

PO Box 3138 Christchurch 8140

[email protected]

0800 666 048

www.otodc.govt.nz