Local body elections
Where can I find information about local body elections?
(Years 5-8)
Image: 169-Election-1 by [unknown] on Newsline. Copyright: Christchurch City Council.
Entry last updated: 10/07/25
Introduction
Local body elections are held every 3 years on the second Saturday in October. This is when people in New Zealand get to choose people for their local council, regional council, district health board and a few other important organisations in their local area.
Local government in New Zealand
These websites have information about the history of local government, types of councils, and the roles of mayors and council members.
Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Te Ara is an excellent starting point for questions about Aotearoa New Zealand. If we look down to the bottom of the page, we can see that the website belongs to the Ministry for Culture & Heritage, so the information is well-researched and reliable.
Go to the Topics tab and find Politics and representation.
Choose Local and regional government to find out about the history of local government in New Zealand.
Or go to Elections and campaigns to find information about elections, election day and voter participation.
Tips: We like sites like this because they’re reliable. You can tell because of their web address – .govt means they are from government. They’re also New Zealand sites, so relevant for us.
This is the official website of local governments of New Zealand. It has lots of information to help you understand local bodies and how councils work.
Go to Local Government in New Zealand.
Choose Local government explained to read about what local governments do and how they get and spend money.
Look at Councils in Aotearoa to find out about types of councils and how they're structured. It also has information about mayors, councillors, and other council staff.
Tips: If a website is new to you, you can check out the About us page, if you can find one. That can tell you what the company’s mission and values are.
Elections and voting
These websites cover local body elections, why these elections are held, and important information for voters and candidates standing for elections.
This website is from the New Zealand Electoral Commission. It has important facts on democracy in New Zealand, different types of elections, and rules for campaigning, candidates and political parties.
Go to the tab called Democracy in NZ and select About elections.
Look for What are local elections?
The plus signs beside headings will open up information about why local elections are held and important election information for voters.
Tips: Many web pages have links to further information or to other recommended sites. Following these links is a great way to find out more.
The official website of local governments of New Zealand also has information about how members get elected.
Select the tab Local Government in New Zealand.
Go to Local elections and voting for information about who can vote and how voting works.
Further down the page, choose Voter guidance to find out more about voting.
Look at Candidates' guidance for information about the nomination process.
Tips: Websites that have .com or .co in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link on the website. This can tell you what the company’s mission and values are.
Books
Check with your local or school library to see what they have on local body elections. A few suggested titles are:
Running the country: a look inside New Zealand's government by Maria Gill
From the Bay of Islands to the Beehive : government in Aotearoa New Zealand by Denny Newburn
Does my vote count? A book about citizenship by Sandy Donovan
People power : civics, government and citizenship by Ruth Naumann
A DecisionMaker 2004 guide to local government in New Zealand = He aratohu mō te Kawanatanga-ā-rohe by Anthony Haas
SCIS no: 1945303
