Quick check, are you ready to vote on 11 October?
- Yes, I'm enrolled and my details are up to date.
Great! You're all set to receive your voting papers in September. - I'm not sure if I'm enrolled.
Check your enrolment status at vote.nz - No, I'm not enrolled yet.
Enrol now, it takes five minutes - vote.nz - I've moved recently.
You need to update your address to vote in the right area. Update your details at vote.nz
Your vote starts with enrolment
Local elections decide who makes the decisions that affect your daily life in Whakatāne District. From the condition of your roads to the cost of your rates, from library opening hours to swimming pool facilities - your elected representatives shape the community you live in.
But you can only have your say if you're enrolled to vote.
Who can vote in Whakatāne District?
To vote in the 2025 local elections, you must be:
- A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony)
- 18 years or older on election day (11 October 2025)
- On the Parliamentary Electoral Roll at a Whakatāne District address
Good news: If you're 17, you can enrol now and your enrolment will automatically activate when you turn 18.
How to enrol - three easy ways
Online
Go to vote.nz
You'll need one of these:
- New Zealand driver licence
- New Zealand passport
- RealMe verified identity
By phone
Call 0800 36 76 56
Electoral Commission staff will help you enrol over the phone and send you a form to sign and return.
Download and post
Download an enrolment form at vote.nz
print, fill out, and return by post with a copy of acceptable ID (driver licence, passport, birth certificate, or citizenship certificate).
Māori or General Electoral Roll?
If you're of Māori descent, you can choose which electoral roll to join:
Māori Electoral Roll
You can vote for:
- Mayor (elected district-wide)
- Māori ward councillors (Rangitāiki Māori, Kāpū-te-rangi Māori, or Toi ki Uta Māori wards)
- Community board members (if applicable)
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council Kōhi Māori Constituency member
- Māori wards binding poll
General Electoral Roll
You can vote for:
- Mayor (elected district-wide)
- General ward councillors (Rangitāiki General, Te Urewera General, or Whakatāne-Ōhope General wards)
- Community board members (if applicable)
- Bay of Plenty Regional Council Eastern BOP General Constituency members
- Māori wards binding poll
Note: You can only be on one roll. If you want to change rolls, contact the Electoral Commission at vote.nz or 0800 36 76 56.
Special circumstances
Students
Where should you enrol?
Enrol where you spend the greater part of your time. If you're studying away from your family home, enrol at your study address if that's where you spend most of the year.
New citizens
Congratulations on becoming a New Zealand citizen!
You can enrol as soon as you become a citizen. You'll need a copy of your citizenship certificate.
Non-resident ratepayers
Own a business or property in Whakatāne District but live elsewhere?
You may be eligible to enrol as a non-resident ratepayer if your name is on the rates notice. Check your eligibility and enrol at ratepayer.co.nz or call 0800 922 822.
Key dates
Friday 1 August 2025: Final day to enrol for an ordinary vote
Tuesday 9 September 2025: Voting papers start being posted out
Monday 22 September 2025: All voting papers should be delivered
Friday 10 October 2025: Final day to enrol (special vote required)
Saturday 11 October 2025: Election Day - voting closes at 12 noon
What happens after I enrol?
- Confirmation letter - You'll receive confirmation from the Electoral Commission
- On the roll - Your name will appear on the electoral roll for the 2025 elections
- Voting papers delivered - In September, you'll automatically receive your voting papers by post
- Ready to vote - Fill out your papers and return them by 12 noon on 11 October 2025