Ngā Kōwhiringa Pōti ā-Rohe
2025 Local Elections
The local elections for Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council take place on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
So, now is the time to check that you're enrolled to vote. If you're enrolled on the electoral roll (elections.nz), you can expect to receive your voting papers by mail between 9 – 22 September 2025.
It's also a good time to consider which electoral roll, the general or Māori, you'd like to be on. Changing your electoral roll must be done by 10 July 2025 to allow time for your voting papers to be updated and ready for posting to you ahead of the local elections in October.
To support our whānau and the wider community, check out our respective councils' local election information.
Rotorua Lakes Council
To learn more about the RLC local election and why your vote matters.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
To learn more about the BOPRC local election and why your say counts.
Key dates
Heads up!
This year, Rotorua Lakes Council will be running a binding poll as part of the local election to ask voters about the future of Te Ipu Wai Taketake Māori Wards. An overview of its local election timeline is below.
The binding poll was initiated by the Government which wants the community to decide on whether it wants Māori wards to stay or be removed. The Government reinstated Māori ward/constituency poll provisions after they were removed from legislation in 2022.
So, why does your vote matter?
Because your voice counts.
You’re eligible to enrol and vote if you are:
18 years or older
a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident; and
you’ve lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.
Exercise your tino rangatiratanga (right)
If you're registered to vote in the Parliamentary elections (as a Parliamentary elector) — the national election scheduled for 2026 — you're automatically enrolled as a local elector for our district and regional council elections.
For us, those are the Rotorua Lakes Council and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council which provide many services and facilities that touch our day-to-day lives:
Rotorua Lakes Council
Provides a wide range of services and facilities that we use daily including:
The local roads you drive on
The running water in the taps in your home
The disposal of rubbish and wastewater
The park where you take your dog for a run
The public pool your kids learn to swim
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Looks at the bigger picture for our region including:
Running the region's public bus network
Biosecurity control (including pest control and harmful plants)
Resource management (quality of water, soil, coastal planning) including flood and river management
Prepares for climate change and natural hazards
Your say will help identify the representatives who could be elected to our local councils.
Key deadlines:
Candidate nominations open, Friday 4 July
Māori voters can change electoral rolls by 10 July 2025
Enrol to vote by 1 August 2025 so you can vote
Candidate nominations for both councils close at midday, Friday, 1 August 2025
Voting opens: 9 September 2025 and closes at midday, 11 October 2025
Election day, 11 October 2025 (closes at midday)
Election results announced 16 - 19 October
Check out the links below for more information about our local elections including registering to vote, what to expect and standing for council.
Rotorua Lakes Council
Find out more about Rotorua Lakes Council's local election.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council
Find out more about BOPRC's local election.
Enrol or update your enrolment
Click on the button below for information on enrolling or switching electoral rolls.