Local election voting papers on the way

The voting period is underway from today (Tuesday 9 September) until 12 noon Saturday 11 October 2025.

Voters can expect to receive their official voting papers over the next week if they enrolled before 1 August 2025.

Voting is by postal voting and uses First Past the Post (FPP). Voters have one vote for mayor, and then for their ward – three for Wairoa Ward, two for Otamatea Ward or three for Kaiwaka–Mangawhai Ward. You will also be voting for your Northland Regional Council constituency representative.

Voters can post their voting papers back using the self-addressed envelope provided with their papers. Completed voting papers can also be returned to Kaipara District Council offices and Kaipara libraries in Dargaville and Mangawhai, Dargaville Woolworths, Four Square stores in Kaiwaka, Ruawai and Maungatūroto, Mangawhai New World, or to our mobile voting team who are visiting communities from Saturday 20 September 2025.

Tuesday 7 October 2025 is the last day for posting votes back by mail to ensure they count. After this date, voting papers will need to be hand delivered to one of the secure ballot boxes in the district by close of voting at 12 noon Saturday 11 October 2025. There is no online voting option.

Special votes are available to those who didn’t receive their pack or have lost or damaged their pack; are travelling during the voting period; are eligible but are missing from the final roll; or if someone turns 18 after roll closure (1 August 2025) but before 11 October 2025. Special votes can be cast at council offices or any mobile voting site.

Note for voters:

If you haven’t enrolled or updated your details, it is not too late. You can enrol right up until Friday 10 October at vote.nz. Anyone enrolling after 1 August 2025 will need to cast a special vote because your postal pack will not be mailed. 

For more information on mobile voting locations, the electoral system and enrolling, head to kaipara.govt.nz/elections

For more information on the Northland Regional Council election, candidates and the Māori constituency poll head to nrc.govt.nz