Local elections 2025

Local authority elections are being held in October 2025

This will be your opportunity as a Waikato resident and/or ratepayer 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.

As we gear up for local elections, we will regularly update this webpage to allow you to participate in local elections for the Waikato region to the best of your ability. This means, 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

1 July: Nominations open
11 July: Pre-election period commences
1 August: Nominations close
9 September to 22 September: Voting documents delivered to electors
11 October (noon): Election day
11 October to 16 October: Official count
16 October to 19 October (or as soon as practicable): Declaration of results

Waikato Regional Council: a team of 14

Imagine a team of 14 passionate elected councillors from across the Waikato rohe working tirelessly together to ensure sustainability for a vibrant Waikato region.

Our councillors represent eight constituencies. Balancing environmental, economic and community interests, they shoulder an array of responsibilities, including:

developing and implementing strategic policies
diligently overseeing council performance
effectively managing resources and strategies
carefully selecting the chief executive.

Learn more about our constituencies

Regional vs city or district - what's the difference?

Regional councils tackle tasks that demand a regional approach. Their duties include:
- managing and conserving natural resources (water, soil, air, geothermal areas, and coasts)
- developing regional transport plans and coordinating passenger transport services
- protecting and restoring biodiversity
- controlling invasive plant and animal species
- designing and maintaining flood protection and drainage systems
- ensuring safe water usage for all users
- addressing pollution issues promptly
- preparing communities for civil defence and effectively coordinating disaster response efforts.
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. The council can act only through majority decisions made at its monthly full council meetings unless otherwise directed by the Local Government Act 2002 or the council’s standing orders. Even the chairperson must follow these collective decisions unless granted special powers.
City and district councils, also known as territorial authorities, operate within smaller geographic areas. Their primary responsibilities include:
- providing essential services such as local roads, water supply, wastewater management, rubbish collection, parking, and public toilets
- developing and maintaining community facilities including libraries, parks, sports fields, pools, and playgrounds
- administering and enforcing the district plan, which covers land use and subdivisions
- ensuring community health and safety through animal control, building regulation, and liquor licensing.
These councils work collectively to govern and improve the quality of life for residents within their jurisdictions.

Being an elected member

Requirements/time commitment

Elected members have various duties, including attending meetings, reviewing reports, participating in briefings, conducting site visits, and responding to constituent inquiries.

The time commitment varies based on their role, such as chairperson, deputy chairperson, committee chair, or councillor. Full council meetings occur on the last Thursday of each month, and councillors may also join working parties, committees, subcommittees, or hearings. To understand community perspectives, they might attend local events. Reading requirements can be extensive, especially during periods of annual planning, annual reporting, and long-term planning amendments. The demands of these roles may impact personal life due to public expectations of availability, although most interactions occur within reasonable hours.

Elected members come from diverse backgrounds, bringing a range of skills and experiences to the role. They need to be flexible, prioritise tasks and manage their time effectively. Knowledge of local iwi, te ao Māori and tikanga is beneficial. We are committed to fulfilling our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, Treaty Settlement Legislation, and our broader statutory obligations to Māori, as well as developing our partnership with Māori.

As public figures, elected members may be called upon to speak at meetings and events and provide comments to the media on certain issues. They need to listen to and relate to the people they represent, empathise with them, and consider their views in decision making. They should confidently communicate their own views and opinions when speaking publicly and engaging with the public.

A significant part of the role involves technology, so elected members should be proficient in using email, MS Teams, a smartphone, and a Surface Pro. They need to utilise various sources when making decisions, including advice from council staff, community views, and their own experience and opinions. They need to consider opposing views, the financial and long-term consequences of decisions, and keep an open mind.

Building and maintaining productive relationships and networks is essential. Elected members should be willing to engage respectfully with people from different cultures and disciplines, including community members and council employees.

Remuneration

The Remuneration Authority, an independent body, sets the compensation for elected members nationwide. The salaries of the current council are as follows:

chairperson: $169,294
deputy chairperson: $86,693
committee chairs: $76,690 to $80,025
councillor with no additional responsibilities: $66,687

The Authority also stipulates provisions for mileage, travel, and allowances.

Eligibility and nominations

To stand for Waikato Regional Council, candidates must be New Zealand citizens, parliamentary electors, and nominated by two parliamentary electors from within the constituency. Restrictions include the following:

Candidates may stand for both mayor and district council within the same authority but not for regional and district/city councils simultaneously.
Candidates cannot stand for more than one constituency.
Contracts exceeding $25,000 with the local authority require approval from the Office of the Auditor-General.
If elected while employed by the council, candidates must resign before taking office.
Permanent court orders preclude holding office.

Nominations will be open from Friday, 1 July 2025, and close at 12 pm on Friday, 1 August 2025.