# Local elections in New Zealand

Local elections are held every three years ending on the second Saturday in October in New Zealand to elect local government politicians using postal voting.

## Background

Elections for the district and city councils and regional councils of New Zealand have a fixed election date, unlike general elections. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, elections must be held on the "second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001. The last local body elections were held on 8 October 2022. The next elections will be held on 11 October 2025. Local elections are mostly organised by the councils themselves, with other organisations (for example the Electoral Commission, and the Department of Internal Affairs) having peripheral roles. The elections determine the membership of district, city, and regional councils. In some places, licensing trusts, community boards and local boards are also voted for. Elections are held by postal voting.
Under New Zealand law, those who are eligible to enrol (18 year of age, lived in New Zealand continuously for at least one year at some time, and are either a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident) must do so. People can vote in the area where they live, and it is up to voters to decide which address they consider their home (e.g. a student may choose to enrol where they live during term time, or their parents' place if they go home during the holidays). If a person owns property in which they do not live, they can also apply to be put onto the ratepayer roll for local elections. That is, an individual may be eligible to vote in more than one voting area for local elections.

## Mayoral elections
### Auckland

2010 • 2013 • 2016 • 2019 • 2022

### Hamilton

1976 (by-election) • 2013 • 2016 • 2019 • 2022

### Hastings

2017 (by-election) • 2019 • 2022

### Nelson

2016 • 2019

### Napier

1917 • 2022

### Rangitikei

2010 • 2013 • 2016

### Rotorua

2019 • 2022

### Tauranga

2016 • 2019 • 2024

### Upper Hutt

2016 • 2019 • 2022

### Whangārei
## Local elections by region
### Northland

* 2022 Northland local elections

### Auckland
#### Auckland Supercity

* 2010 Auckland local elections
** 2010 Auckland local board elections
* 2013 Auckland local elections
** 2013 Auckland local board elections
* 2016 Auckland local elections
** 2016 Auckland local board elections
* 2019 Auckland local elections
** 2019 Auckland local board elections
* 2022 Auckland local elections
** 2022 Auckland local board elections

#### Auckland city

* 1986 Auckland City local elections
* 1989 Auckland City local elections
* 1992 Auckland City local elections
* 1995 Auckland City local elections
* 1998 Auckland City local elections

### Waikato
#### Hamilton

* 2013 Hamilton local elections and referendums

### Bay of Plenty

* 2019 Bay of Plenty local elections
* 2024 Tauranga local elections

### Far North

* 2019 Far North local elections

### Gisborne

* 2022 Gisborne local elections

### Hawke's Bay

* 2019 Hawke's Bay local elections
* 2022 Hawke's Bay local elections

### Manawatū-Whanganui
#### Rangitikei

* 2010 Rangitikei local elections
* 2013 Rangitikei local elections
* 2016 Rangitikei local elections

### Wellington

* 2010 Wellington local elections
* 2016 Wellington local elections
* 2019 Wellington local elections
* 2022 Wellington local elections

#### Wellington City

* 1986 Wellington City local elections
* 1989 Wellington City local elections
* 1992 Wellington City local elections
* 1995 Wellington City local elections
* 1998 Wellington City local elections
* 2001 Wellington City local elections
* 2004 Wellington City local elections
* 2007 Wellington City local elections
* 2013 Wellington local elections

#### Porirua

* 1983 Porirua local elections
* 1986 Porirua local elections
* 1989 Porirua local elections
* 1992 Porirua local elections

#### Lower Hutt

* 1989 Hutt City local elections
* 1992 Hutt City local elections
* 1995 Hutt City local elections
* 1998 Hutt City local elections
* 2001 Hutt City local elections
* 2004 Hutt City local elections

### Tasman

* 2022 Tasman local elections

### Nelson

* 2022 Nelson local elections

### Marlborough

* 2022 Marlborough local elections

### Canterbury

* 2016 Canterbury local elections

#### Christchurch

* 2022 Christchurch local elections

### Otago

* 2022 Otago Regional Council election

#### Dunedin

* 2010 Dunedin local elections
* 2022 Dunedin local elections