Local Elections 2025 / NGĀ PŌTI Ā-ROHE 2025

Mark your calendar – the next local election opens on Tuesday, 9 September and closes on Saturday, 11 October 2025.

Our local elections are held every three years and this year’s VOTE 2025 will give you the chance to vote for local and regional council members, as well as members to represent Upper Hutt in Hutt Mana Charitable Trust and Rimutaka Licensing Trust. 

Whether you’re looking for details on candidates, voting bin locations, or key dates, you’ll find everything you need here to participate in shaping the future of our community.

NGĀ RĀ MĀTUA / KEY DATES

• 1 SEP 2024 – 1 AUG 2025: Check you are enrolled to vote
• 1 SEP 2024 – 1 JUL 2025: Consider running as a candidate
• 4 JUL 2025: Candidate nominations open; Public inspection for rolls opens
• 14 JUL 2025 | 4PM: Information evening for candidates (presented by electionz.com)
• 1 AUG 2025: Candidate nominations closes at 12 noon
• 6 AUG 2025: Public notice of candidates’ names
• 9 SEP – 22 SEPT 2025: Voting papers posted to enrolled voters
• 9 SEP – 11 OCT 2025: Voting opens
• 11 OCT 2025: Voting closes at 12 noon. Progress and preliminary results published
• 14 OCT – 19 OCT 2025: Final results declared

ME PĒHEA TAKU RĒHITA KI TE PŌTI / HOW DO I ENROL TO VOTE?

Voting opens from Tuesday, 9 September and closes at 12 noon on Saturday, 11 October 2025.

Update your details to receive voting papers:

In order for you to receive your voting papers in the post between 9 September and 22 September, you must enrol to vote. Now is the time to check if you are already enrolled and whether your postal details are correct. Click the link and follow the instructions: https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online

Who can vote?

You can enrol to vote if you:

• are 18 years or older; and
• are a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident; or
• have lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.

 If you’re enrolled to vote for the parliamentary elections, you’re automatically enrolled for local elections too.

 If you’re enrolled to vote, you should receive your voting papers in the mail between Tuesday, 9 September and Monday, 22 September 2025.

Wherever you pay rates, you can vote

Here’s a little something you may not know. 

 Wherever you pay rates, you can vote. 

 If you live elsewhere in New Zealand but own property in Upper Hutt , you may be able to enrol as a non-resident ratepayer elector and vote in both areas. Check you eligibility at: https://ratepayers.electionz.com/Ratepayers or download https://www.upperhutt.govt.nz/files/assets/public/v/1/elections/vote-2022/uhcc-local-election-ratepayer-enrolment-form.pdf

What to do with voting papers

Once you have completed your voting papers, you can either drop them off in the secured voting bin around Upper Hutt, or freepost them using the prepaid envelope provided.

If you are posting them, check your envelope for the postal cut-off date.

More information to come about the location of the secured voting bins.

KA PĒWHEA AU E TŪ HAI KAITONO? / HOW DO I RUN AS A CANDIDATE?

Now is also the time to consider if you would like to run as a candidate for the upcoming local election. 

Candidate nominations are open from 4 July and closes on 1 August at 12 noon.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

To be eligible to stand as a candidate, you must meet the following requirements. You must:

• be 18 years and above;  
• be enrolled as a voter anywhere in New Zealand; and 
• be a New Zealand Citizen.

You do not need to be a resident of the district(s) you choose to run but your two nominees must.

If you or your partner hold a contract of more than $25,000 for the local council, you cannot stand unless you have prior approval from the Auditor-General.

How do I submit my nominations?

You will need:

• to complete an official nomination form sent to Council’s electoral officials either electronically or in person before 12pm on Friday, 1 August 2025
• to include in your submission a passport sized photo and a 150-word candidate profile.
• to include nominations from two residents of Upper Hutt. You cannot nominate yourself, and those who nominate candidates must be over 18 years old and enrolled to vote in Upper Hutt.
• to give your consent for their nominations.
• to pay a $200 deposit, which may be refunded depending on election results.

Your submission must be dropped off in person or emailed to our Election Officer before 12 noon on Friday, 1 August 2025.

Learn more on running as a candidate: https://www.votelocal.co.nz/information-for-candidates

Be sure to check out NZ Empowered’s article for more information central to the Upper Hutt local elections: https://uhconnection.co.nz/general-news/local-election-information-2025/ – Added by editor

Source: Upper Hutt City Council

29/05/25