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Local authority elections are being held in October 2025

This will be your opportunity to either become a candidate to sit at the decision-making table of Waikato Regional Council or to vote for the person who you think will best represent your interests and views.

Stay tuned

As we gear up for local elections, we will provide regular updates so you can participate in local elections for the Waikato region. We’ll provide information about:

  • the roles and responsibilities of this regional council
  • the requirements and commitments of regional councillors
  • all the candidates who will stand for local election in 2025.

 Key dates

  • 4 July 2025: Candidate nominations open and roll opens for public inspection
  • 1 August 2025 at 12 noon: Candidate nominations close and roll closes
  • 6 August 2025: Public notice of candidates’ names
  • 9-22 September 2025: Voting documents delivered
  • 7 October 2025: Last day for posting vote by mail. After this date, votes must be returned to council’s secure ballot boxes.
  • 11 October 2025 at 12 noon: Election day – voting closes midday
  • 11 October 2025 from 12 noon: Progress results
  • 16-22 October 2025: Declaration of results

Stay tuned > Get enrolled

Voting is your chance to choose the people who will best represent what’s important to you over the next three years. But before you can vote, you must be enrolled.

What we do

Improving water quality, enhancing the health of our coastal and marine ecosystems, protecting and restoring our unique native plants and animals and the ecosystems they live in, keeping people safe on our roads and waterways as well as from floods and other hazards, and providing passenger transport services.

We do all this, and more.

Learn more about our mahi

If it matters to you - information for candidates

Every decision made by councillors significantly impacts the lives of Waikato residents, today and for the future. Elected members have the responsibility to represent the interests of all residents and ratepayers in the region, going beyond their immediate constituencies.

Do you have what it takes to sit at the decision-making table of Waikato Regional Council?

Start your elections journey

Our iwi relationships

Waikato Regional Council has co-governance and co-management arrangements with several iwi partners. 

Learn about our iwi relationships