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Local Election Campaign

Kaupapa?

Local elections are being held from 9 September 2025 to 11 October 2025 to elect members of city, district and regional councils. Each local council runs its local elections.

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Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated is running its own election campaign to help our whānau understand and participate in the 2025 New Zealand local election. Whether you want to learn more, understand how to vote or become a candidate in your local council, we want to support whānau to succeed. Our role as an iwi is to communicate & connect our whānau to the information so you can govern yourself and make informed decisions for you and your whānau. 

 
Campaign Objectives

  1. Educate and help whānau to understand the 2025 NZ local elections.

  2. Encourage whānau to participate.

  3. Extinguish fear and empower whānau.

  4. Help whānau understand Māori Wards and make an informed choice.

  5. Help potential Māori candidates run a successful campaign.

  6. Encourage our rising rangatahi to stand up and be ready to lead.

  7. Connect whānau to more information in our communities.

  8. To build the knowledge base and stir up our people to action.

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Campaign Themes

  1. “Representation Matters. Make a Difference.”

  2. “Kotahitanga in Council – Let Māori Voices Lead.”

  3. “Māori Wards: A Seat at the Table, a Voice in the Future.”

  4. “Our Voice, Our Mana, Our Place.”

  5. “Tautoko Māori Values – For Us, By Us.”

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Don't be afraid

If this is your first time getting to know and understand how the NZ local Government Elections work, join the club. We are all learners at things until we strive to understand it better. It's empowering when you do know more about this kaupapa and then you become more confident in your actions. ​The people elected to local councils get to make decisions about our daily lives and the future of our towns and cities. They set and collect rates, oversee town planning, and provide services like rubbish collection, parks and libraries. In some parts of New Zealand, local elections are also held for local and community boards, licensing trusts, and some other organisations. We have the opportunity to vote for people who we trust. Who knows, if you think you have what it takes, you might be a great candidate!

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Everything you need to know

Local elections are being held in 2025 to elect members of the city, district and regional councils. Each local council runs its own local elections. Take the time to look at this website. It's easy to follow and helps you to learn quickly the kaupapa of whāt's taking place.

 

Click on the link below and navigate the web

Click on the image below to link to the vote.nz website and learn everything you need to know about the elections and what you need to do.  

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Where are the city, district and regional councils and what do they do?

Click here to view the Kahungunu boundary. Within the Ngāti Kahungunu boundary, there are several local and regional councils that govern different parts of the rohe. These councils are responsible for local government functions such as infrastructure, community services, environmental management, and economic development.

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An overview of the regional and local councils within the Ngāti Kahungunu area:

 

Regional Councils (Environmental/Resource Management Focus)

  1. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC)

    • Covers much of the central Ngāti Kahungunu rohe, including Napier, Hastings, Wairoa, and Central Hawke’s Bay.

    • Focuses on natural resources, freshwater, climate response, and regional transport.

  2. Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC)

    • Governs parts of the southern Kahungunu region, particularly the Wairarapa area (Masterton, Carterton, South Wairarapa).

    • Responsibilities include public transport, flood protection, environmental regulation, and biodiversity.

 

Territorial Authorities (City and District Councils)

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Within Hawke’s Bay Region:

  • Wairoa District Council – Northernmost part of Ngāti Kahungunu; home to strong Māori populations and several marae.

  • Hastings District Council – Includes Flaxmere, Heretaunga, and rural areas of Kahungunu heartland.

  • Napier City Council – Urban area with significant Ngāti Kahungunu population.

  • Central Hawke’s Bay District Council – Covers areas like Waipukurau and Waipawa.

 

Within Wairarapa/Greater Wellington, and Tararua Region:

  • Masterton District Council

  • Carterton District Council

  • South Wairarapa District Council

    • These three councils cover the southern parts of Kahungunu.

  • Tararua District Council (Partly overlaps eastern Wairarapa and inland Hawke’s Bay)​​​

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Support people who uphold our values. 

When you are not sure what to do and who to vote for, you need to educate yourself more about the kaupapa and about people. Get to know the candidates. If they uphold values that align with what you believe, then they are probably worthy of your vote. If you are not sure, take a look at our iwi values and ask yourself if the values of a decision you will make, will help achieve excellence in all areas of your life. Voting and participating in the election is an action of empowerment. Doing nothing at all, is allowing others to govern your life. Have your say whānau!!!!

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Don't just read - Be a Participant, not just a Bystander 

It’s important to have your say on who represents your community by voting

in the 2025 local elections. 

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Enrol to have your say

  • If you’re on the electoral roll, you can vote in the local elections where you live.

  • You can enrol if you’re 18 or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in New Zealand for more than one year continuously at some time in your life.

  • You can enrol or update your details online, or call and ask us on 0800 36 76 56 for help.

  • If you enrol or update your address after 1 August 2025, you won’t get your voting papers sent to you in the mail. You’ll need to contact your council’s electoral officer.

  • The last day to enrol to vote in the local elections is Friday 10 October 2025.

 

Māori roll or general roll?

If you’re of New Zealand Māori descent, you can choose to enrol on the Māori roll or the general roll. The roll you choose may affect who you can vote for at local elections. If you are enrolled and would like to change the roll you are on before the local elections, you need to do it by Thursday 10 July 2025.

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Key Dates

Don't miss out - Stay abreast of the timeline of events

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© 2024 by Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

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