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Stand for Council

Back yourself. Run for Council! Do you want to represent your community? All the information you need to stand as a candidate can be found on this page.

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Nominations for candidates in the local elections open on Friday 4 July and close on Friday 1 August. Nomination forms will be available on this page and at Council service centres.

Are you eligible to stand?

To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be:

  • a New Zealand citizen and
  • on the electoral roll (18 years or older) and
  • nominated by two people whose names appear on the electoral roll of the area that a candidate is standing for.  You don’t need to live in the area that you are standing for.

Information sessions for prospective candidates

Book a slot with our CEO and a councillor not seeking re-election to join a relaxed conversation with people in the know. Ask questions, get advice, and see if standing is right for you.
These face-to-face sessions are designed to help you decide if standing for Council is right for you - no pressure, just honest answers. 

Time slots available:

Thursday 3 July

  • 5 – 6 pm
  • 6 – 7 pm

Monday 7 July

  • 10 – 11 am
  • 11 – 12 noon

Thursday 10 July

  • 2 – 3 pm
  • 3 – 4 pm

To secure your spot, email: elections@bdc.govt.nz or phone: 0800 807 239

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Local Government New Zealand has put together a helpful Candidates' Guide. You can download a free copy here

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

A Pre-election Report will be available in July.

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.

For more information about standing for Council, including alternative language options:

Visit: LGNZ