Every three years, elections are held across New Zealand to elect mayors, councillors, community boards and other local body positions. This provides the chance to make your voice heard and have your say in the future of the Buller District.
Local authority elections will be held on Saturday, 11 October 2025. This public notice tells you how to enrol, and who can enrol as a ratepayer elector, so you can vote in the elections. Voting will take place between 9 September - 11 October.
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Friday 4 July |
Nominations open. Electoral roll opens for inspection. |
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Friday 1 August |
Nominations close at 12 noon. Electoral roll closes. |
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By 6 August |
Public notice of candidate names and special voting places. |
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9-22 September |
Delivery of voting documents (will occur between these dates). |
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9 September - 11 October |
Voting and special voting period. Early processing period. |
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Saturday 11 October |
Election Day (voting closes at 12 noon) Progress / preliminary results will be announced as soon as practicable. |
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11-16 October |
Official count and processing of special votes. |
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16-19 October |
Declaration of final result and public notice of results. |
If you are already enrolled as a parliamentary elector you will automatically be placed on Council’s electoral roll. If you need to enrol or update your name or address details, you can:
If you’d like help with the enrolment forms and checking your online details, please call into one of our service centres where staff are available to assist you.
An organisation can nominate one of its members or officers to vote on its behalf
If a firm, company, trust, corporation, society partners, joint tenants and tenants in common collectively pay rates on a property in a council district, one of the group may be nominated to be the ratepayer elector.
The person nominating and the nominated person must be registered as Parliamentary electors at addresses outside the council district where the property is located.
Not sure what ward you are in?
See the map showing the district's wards, community board and licensing trust area
Elections are currently held for:
Check your enrolment details are up-to-date
Click link below to check if your enrolment details are correct or need to be updated online check enrolment details online
We are required to review and consult the community about our representation arrangements in every six years.
Our most recent representation review was held in 2024/2025 and resulted in no changes to the way local body elections function in the Buller District.
Find out more about the Representation Review by clicking here.
For more information about enrolling and voting, including alternative language options:
The daily vote count report shows:
The numbers increase each day over the voting period (Tuesday 9 September to 12 noon, Saturday 11 October 2025).
The final vote count report will be published once the total count and official results are released.
The report also compares the data with the 2019 and 2022 local elections, by date and local board.
A candidate handbook with information about everything to do with nominations, campaigning and standing for Council, Community Board or Mayor – is available below for anyone considering standing in the 2025 local elections. Hard copies are also available from Council offices and service centres.
Local Government New Zealand has put together a helpful Candidates' Guide. You can download a free copy here
This report is a statutory requirement under the Local Government Act, published by all councils prior to each local authority election. It provides financial information including plans and forecast expenditure for the next three years, along with a review of expenditure in the previous three year.
There are set rules and legislative requirements for election signage. The Candidate handbook contains all the details. It is important that candidates read and understand these expectations.
Elected members receive salaries that vary depending on the size of each council. These salaries are set independently by the Remuneration Authority.
See here for Elected Member Remuneration 2024-25
Return of electoral donations and expenses
All electorate candidates must file a return of their expenses and donations, even if they didn’t have any expenses or donations.
Candidate returns include donations, anonymous donations, and overseas donations, and election expenses for advertising.
For more information about standing for Council, including alternative language options:
Visit: LGNZ
