Voting papers on way

Voting papers for next month’s local body election will begin arriving in people’s mailboxes from today, Tuesday 09 September.

Dale Ofsoske, the Northland Regional Council’s Electoral Officer, says voting papers will be delivered to registered voters from 09-22 September 2025.

Local body elections are conducted by postal voting, and papers must be put in the mail no later than Tuesday 07 October to ensure they arrive in time to be counted.

“After that date however, you can hand deliver your voting paper to a ballot box up until midday on Election Day, Saturday 11 October.”

A list of ballot box locations can be found via your local district council website.

Mr Ofsoske says anyone who does not receive voting papers by 22 September should contact the Northland Regional Council electoral office by phoning (0800) 922 822 or emailing specialvotes@electionservices.org.nz and requesting a Special Vote.

Special Votes can also be obtained from dedicated district council offices in Whangārei, Kaipara and the Far North.  (Visit their websites for locations nearest to you.)

Twenty-three people have been nominated for the regional council, however, due to only one nomination in the Mid North General Constituency the sole candidate, Geoff Crawford, has been declared elected unopposed.

This leaves 22 people contesting the remaining eight seats on council; six general seats and two Māori seats.

A list of all candidates and their profiles is on council’s website at: www.nrc.govt.nz/elections

To help voters make an informed choice, the Northland Regional Council also recently invited candidates to film a 90-second video addressing three questions:

• Why do you think you're right for the role?
• In your view, what's the biggest challenge facing our region?
• What are your top priorities for council/Northland for the next three years? 

To watch the candidate videos go to: www.nrc.govt.nz/candidates2025 

Meanwhile, as well as voting for those who will represent them around the council table for the next three years, all voters will also be able to vote on whether to keep or remove the Northland Regional Council Māori constituency, Te Raki Māori.

More information about the poll is available on council's website at: www.nrc.govt.nz/poll