Voting is your choice - but it plays a key role in our democracy. Your vote is important because the people elected are responsible for making decisions about what happens in our community for the next 3 years. They will make important decisions about our services and infrastructure - like our rates, roads, water and community facilities.
It's important to vote!
Election day is Saturday 11 October 2025, closing at 12noon.
Voting is by postal vote and starts on Tuesday 9 September and closes at 12 noon Saturday 11 October 2025. There's no online voting option.
In the local elections, voters will elect:
- 1 Mayor, elected at large
- 8 Tairāwhiti General Ward councillors or
- 5 Tairāwhiti Māori Ward councillors
Get to know the candidates
Candidate meetings will be held - you can attend and find out what policies the different candidates advocate for.
A candidate profile booklet will be available after nominations close. This will be on our website and you'll get a booklet with the voting papers.
Candidates may have their own websites, social media pages, videos, adverts and put information into letterboxes.
Post your vote
You should post your completed vote using any New Zealand Post box by Tuesday 7 October 2025 so it can reach us before 12 noon on election day, Saturday 11 October 2025.
Drop off your vote
You can drop off completed voting papers to any of the voting ballot boxes, before 12noon Saturday 11 October. Late votes won't be counted. The locations of the orange ballot boxes:
- Elgin – Shop N Save
- Gisborne
- Council's Customer Service, 15 Fitzherbert Street, 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday
- Paper Plus, Gladstone Rd
- The Warehouse, Customhouse St
- Kaiti – Kaiti Mall Fresh Choice
- Hicks Bay – KELB Hicks Bay General Store
- Matawai – Matawai Campground Store
- Ruatoria – Four Square
- Te Araroa – Four Square
- Te Karaka – Rangatira Motors
- Te Puia Springs – Te Puia Springs Service Centre
- Tikitiki - Waiapu RSA
- Tokomaru Bay – The Fish Shop
- Tolaga Bay – George and Mildreds Supermarket
Frequently asked questions
Is it before Monday 22 September 2025 and you believe you're correctly registered on the electoral roll?
Yes - Please wait until the mail has been delivered on Monday 22 September 2025.
If your voting document is not received, then call the electoral office on 0800 922 822 and request a special vote.
Or
Is it after Monday 22 September 2025 and you believe you are correctly registered on electoral roll?
Yes - You'll need to apply for a special vote. See the special vote information below.
Or
Is it after Monday 22 September 2025 and you believe you are not correctly registered on the electoral roll?
Yes - You'll need to complete a Parliamentary Electoral Roll enrolment form. These are available online at www.vote.nz or phone
0800 36 76 56 to have one posted to you with a return envelope.
You will need to apply for a special vote. See the special vote information below.
You can use an envelope of your own and put the return address and Replypaid number on it.
You won't need to put a stamp on the envelope, if you write the Replypaid number on the envelope and post it in New Zealand.
Replypaid number 4710
The Electoral Office
Gisborne District Council
PO Box 5135
Victoria Street West
Auckland 1142.
If you can amend it so that your voting intention is clear, then do so.
If necessary, we can issue you with a special vote, but this will take time and require you to complete a statutory declaration.
Special voting documents can be obtained from:
→ Council’s Main Office, 15 Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne
→ Te Puia Springs Service Centre, 4746 Waiapu Road, Te Puia Springs
→ or by phoning 0800 922 822
→ or email specialvotes@electionservices.co.nz
All special votes need to be completed and returned to the electoral officer or an electoral official (at any of the above locations) by noon Saturday 11 October 2025.
If posting, send by Tuesday 7 October 2025 to ensure it gets back to the Electoral Office in time.
You can cast a special vote if you:
- haven't received a voting pack in the mail by 22 September
- lost or damaged your voting pack
- haven't enrolled to vote on time
- will be travelling during the voting period
- are eligible to vote but your name does not appear on the final electoral roll.
Special voting pack includes:
- a special voting document
- a special voting declaration
- 2 envelopes.
You will need to apply for a special vote. See information above on special votes.
Call the electoral office on 0800 922 822
Under the Local Electoral Act 2001, you cannot interfere with or influence any person as to how they should vote.
An elector who is physically impaired, visually impaired or for whom English is a second language, can direct a person to assist them to vote.
The person assisting must only act as directed by the elector.
Telephone voting will be available for electors with disabilities. To access this service, electors will need to call the electoral office on 0800 922 822.
How are candidates elected?
Gisborne District Council uses the Single Transferable Vote System (STV). Instead of putting a tick beside the candidates you want to vote for, you rank them with numbers.
Put a "1" beside the candidate you like best, then a "2" beside your second choice, "3" by your third choice, and so on. You can vote for as many or as few candidates as you like.
By ranking candidates in your preferred order - 1,2,3,4 and so on - you're also saying which other candidates you prefer:
- if your top choice doesn't have enough support to get in or,
- if your top choice doesn't need all the votes they received to be elected.
For more information on Single Transferable Vote
For more information read the handy FAQ guide
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