Tairāwhiti local elections to vote for a mayor and councillors will be held Saturday 11 October 2025 by postal vote.
A referendum on the future of our district's Māori ward is also included.
First thing - check you're enrolled to vote, the roll is open until 1 August Enrol, Check or Update
Information on how to stand for council, voting and the referendum
| Friday 4 July 2025 | Candidate nominations open, roll opens for public inspection |
|---|---|
| 1 August | Ratepayer electoral roll closes |
| 1 August | Candidate nominations close at 12noon |
| 8 August | Candidates announced |
| 9 - 22 September | Voting papers delivered to enrolled voters |
| 9 September | Voting opens |
| Saturday 11 October | Voting closes 12noon |
| Saturday 11 October | Progress and preliminary results published |
| 13 - 17 October | Official count - final results announced |
| Friday 17 October | Declaration of results - public notice |
| Mid/late December 2025 | Return of electoral donations and expenses form |
Questions and answers about the elections
The electoral officer has full responsibility for running the election.
The electoral officer is Dale Ofsoske, Independent Election Services Ltd
Electoral Office: 167 Victoria Street West,
Auckland Central (entrance off Dock Street)
Phone: 0800 922 822, email: dale.ofsoske@electionservices.co.nz
The deputy electoral officer is Teremoana Kingi
Gisborne District Council
15 Fitzherbert Street, Gisborne
Phone: 06 867 2049 or 0800 653 800, email: teremoana.kingi@gdc.govt.nz
The STV (single transferable voting) electoral system will be used for the Gisborne District Council elections.
The FPP (first past the post) electoral system will be used for the Māori ward poll question.
Electors will be able to vote for the mayor and ward councillors.
The current structure is:
Ward councillors
- Tairāwhiti General 8
- Tairāwhiti Māori 5
In addition electors will be able to vote on a referendum - whether to keep or remove the Māori ward for the Gisborne District Council.
The outcome of this binding poll will apply to the 2028 and 2031 triennial elections.
Māori ward councillors are elected by those enrolled to vote on the Māori electoral roll.
Similarly, general ward councillors are elected by those enrolled to vote on the general electoral roll.
Elections will be held for:
- Mayor - elected at large
- councillors
The Gisborne District Council area is divided into 2 district-wide wards:
| Ward | Councillors | Resident electors |
|---|---|---|
| Tairāwhiti General Ward | 8 | 23,143 |
| Tairāwhiti Māori Ward | 5 | 11,597 |
| 13 | 34,740 |
Number of electors as at 28 February 2025.
Gisborne District Council is a unitary authority, there is no regional council elections.