Local elections, held every three years, are an opportunity for residents and ratepayers to vote for a mayor and councillors. The next local election will be held on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
Some things are worth standing for. Your community is one of them.
Voting packs are on the way. Check your letterbox from 9 September.
How to vote
Vote drop-off locations
Voting is simple. The impact is significant.
Gor your papers? Time to vote.
See who is standing for Whakatāne District in the 2025 local elections
Every vote is a stand for Whakatāne's future.
Are you ready to vote on 11 October?
By being elected to Whakatāne District Council or a community board, you'll be contributing to decisions that affect people and communities across the district.
Voting is officially open for the 2025 local elections, with voting packs hitting mailboxes from today (9 September 2025) and over the next two weeks.
And those bright orange voting bins everyone's been talking about? They're live and ready at convenient places near you - supermarkets, shops, a number of iwi headquarters, and community spots across the region.
Life is busy - work, whānau, commitments, routines. This local election is about making voting fit seamlessly into all of that.
Whakatāne District Council has set its sights on achieving a record voter turnout this election, making it easier than ever for people to have their say. From bright orange voting bins in places you already go to across the district, to mobile teams bringing support directly into communities, the focus is on accessibility, convenience, and participation.
Read the full article »
Friday 1 August is the deadline to enrol and get your nominations in for this year's local elections. If you want to vote, you need to be enrolled. If you want to stand, you need to be nominated. Both opportunities close at the same moment - 12 noon on Friday, 1 August 2025.
Chief Executive Steven Perdia is clear about the timeframe.
"Noon, Friday, 1 August is your deadline. If you’ve ever thought about standing up for your community, this is your moment. Whether you're ready to lead where you live or want to help make sure the right people do - this date matters."
The countdown to this year’s local elections is officially on, marked by the release of ‘All you need to know about the Council’ - Whakatāne District Council’s 2025 Pre-Election Report.
This essential document offers a snapshot of Council’s current work programme, finances, and the key issues and opportunities facing the district in the years ahead. It’s a must-read for anyone considering standing, planning to vote, or simply wanting to understand the big decisions coming up.
Whakatāne District Council today launches its 2025 local election campaign – Stand for Something: Tū Tūturu.
The campaign calls on people from all walks of life to step up, be heard, and lead where they live. It also encourages residents and ratepayers to enrol, vote and help shape the future of the Whakatāne District.
A binding poll in relation to Māori Wards will also be held alongside the election.
The poll will be held alongside the 2025 local body elections, with voting closing on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
Find out more about the Māori Wards Poll
Your community needs your voice. You'll be voting for representatives who will make decisions affecting your daily life for the next three years:
This October, you’ll get to vote for the Mayor and Councillors who best reflect your values and priorities for Whakatāne District. Your voice matters - whether you’re voting or thinking about standing as a candidate.
The decisions made by the Council affect all of us - from community facilities and services to the environment, infrastructure, and how land is used.
The Pre-Election Report gives voters and potential candidates useful information about Whakatāne District Council ahead of the 2025 local elections.
All you need to know about the Council | Pre Election Report 2025 »
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Now - Monday, 4 August | Enrol! From Monday, 4 August anyone who is entitled to vote and who is not enrolled as an elector, or whose details are incorrectly recorded on the roll, will have to cast a 'special vote'. |
| Friday, 4 July | Nominations open for candidates. Nominations have to be sent to the electoral officer for the council, district health board or licensing trust. Rolls open for inspection at council offices and other sites locally. |
| Friday, 1 August | Nominations close at 12 noon. Rolls close. After this date, anyone who is entitled to vote and who is not enrolled as an elector, or whose details are incorrectly recorded on the roll, will have to cast a 'special vote'. |
| Tuesday, 9 September | Voting opens. Voting documents delivered to households. Electors can post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted. |
| Saturday, 11 October | Polling day - The voting documents must be at the council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results (i.e. once all 'ordinary' votes are counted) will be available as soon as possible afterwards. |
| 16-29 October (or as soon as practicable) | Official results (including all valid ordinary and special votes) declared. |
Electoral Officer
Dale Ofsoske
Independent Election Services Ltd
Phone: 0800 922 822
Email: dale.ofsoske@electionservices.co.nz
Deputy Electoral Officer
Chirese Viljoen
Whakatāne District Council
Phone: 07 306 0500
Email: chirese.viljoen@whakatane.govt.nz