Council’s Deputy Electoral Officer Jennifer Parker says if you want to help shape your city, work with the community, and represent Wellingtonians, now is your chance to stand for Wellington City Council.
“If you are passionate about the place we call home and want to help form the future of Wellington, then you should consider standing for election. Standing for Council is a good way to represent your city – and be the voice at the table for your community.
“Good elections need good candidates. To stand you can be from any ethnicity, demographic and background, you just need to be a New Zealand citizen, on the electoral roll, and 18-years and over.
“As an elected member you will be responsible for many things that have a direct impact on the wider community including decision making on regulatory matters, preparing plans for the city’s future and sustainability, and setting rates and bylaws – does that sound like you?”
For the first time in the 2022 elections, voters on the Māori roll will vote for a Councillor from the new Māori ward - Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
Wellingtonians will be able to vote for 16 elected members to represent the city’s residents and ratepayers:
- One Mayor, who is elected by all the city's voters.
- One Councillor for the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward.
- Three Councillors for the Takapū/Northern General Ward.
- Three Councillors for the Wharangi/Onslow-Western General Ward.
- Three Councillors for the Pukehīnau/Lambton General Ward.
- Three Councillors for the Motukairangi/Eastern General Ward.
- Two Councillors for the Paekawakawa/Southern General Ward.
- Tawa and Makara residents also vote to elect six members to their local Community Boards.
Nominations are also open for the Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Hutt Mana Charitable Trust.
Elected members are responsible for:
- preparing and adopting the Long-Term Plan, Annual Plan and Annual Report
- setting rates and bylaws
- decision-making on regulatory matters
- setting strategies, policies and plans
- governing Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs)
- consulting with, and considering the views of local communities
- monitoring and reviewing the Council’s performance.
Wellington City Council provides approximately 400 services to the people that live and visit the city – like rubbish collection and recycling; caring for our playgrounds, sports and recreation facilities and pools; managing the city’s water; transport infrastructure and so much more.
To find out about what it’s like to stand for election and the role of the City Council, come along to a candidate information evening on Tuesday 19 July 2022.
The session will be held at 5.30pm on level 16 of the Wellington City Council offices at 113 The Terrace. No pre-registration is required, so prospective candidates can just turn up on the day and find out how, why and what it means to be a Councillor.
The session will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel and available to watch afterwards there and on our website at wellington.govt.nz/elections.
Quick checklist for prospective candidates:
- To be eligible to stand, prospective nominees must be New Zealand citizens, 18 years and over, and on the electoral roll.
- Candidates don’t have to live in the area in which they want to stand (except for the Hutt Mana Charitable Trust).
- A candidate cannot nominate themselves. Two people who are enrolled in the area or ward they want to stand in must nominate them.
- A nomination deposit of $200 is payable for each position candidates wish to contest.
Key dates for the 2022 local elections:
- 15 July 2022 - Candidate nominations open and roll opens for public inspection.
- 12 August 2022 at 12 noon - Candidate nominations close and roll closes.
- 17 August 2022 - Public notice of candidates’ names.
- 16 – 21 September 2022 - Voting documents delivered.
- 16 September 2022 - Voting opens.
- 4 October 2022 - Last day for posting vote by mail. After this date votes must be returned to Council’s secure ballot boxes.
- 8 October 2022 at 12 noon - Election day – voting closes midday.
- 8 October 2022 from 12 noon - Preliminary results released.
- 13-19 October 2022 - Declaration of results.
- October/November 2022 - Elected members’ swearing in ceremonies.
Electoral roll available for inspection:
The preliminary electoral roll of electors is available from Friday 15 July. It’s held by the Electoral Officer on level 16 of the City Council offices at 113 The Terrace, and is also available at all city libraries and the Arapaki Manners Library and Service Centre in Manners Street.
This is your chance to make sure you are enrolled to vote at the election. You can also check your enrolment status at www.vote.nz/enrol. If you enrol by Friday 12 August then you will get your vote in the post. If it’s after this date, no worries! You can enrol up to Friday 7 October and still vote.
For more information about standing, enroling and voting, visit wellington.govt.nz/elections.