If you are passionate about the place we call home and want to help shape the future of Wellington, then you should consider standing for election.
Roles you can stand for
There are several roles you can stand for in the Wellington City local elections:
The Mayor
- Elected by all the city’s voters.
15 councillor positions:
- One Councillor for Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward - Elected by people on the Māori roll in Wellington City
- Three Councillors for Takapū/Northern General Ward
- Three councillors for Wharangi/Onslow-Western General Ward
- Three Councillors for Pukehīnau/Lambton General Ward
- Three Councillors for Motukairangi/Eastern General Ward
- Two Councillors for Paekawakawa/Southern General Ward
12 Community Board Members:
- Six members of the Tawa Community Board
- Six members of the Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board You can find your ward here.
Other elections
Greater Wellington Regional Council
The regional council has three constituencies (regional council version of wards) in the Wellington City area.
- Five Councillors are elected to the Wellington constituency covering all of Wellington City except the suburbs of Tawa, Takapū Valley and Grenada North.
- Two Councillors are elected to the Porirua/Tawa Constituency covering Porirua and the Wellington City suburbs of Tawa, Takapū Valley and Grenada North. Visit the regional council page to find out more.
- One councillor is elected to the Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Māori Constituency covering voters on the Māori roll in the Wellington region. This is the first election that Greater Wellington Regional Council has had a Māori constituency.
Visit the Greater Wellington Regional Council elections page for more information.
How could you make a difference?
As an elected member, you get to voice the opinions of your community and plan Wellington’s future. Standing for Wellington City Council, a community board or Greater Wellington Regional Council is a good way to represent your community and your city. Candidates can come from all walks of life and generally have a desire to serve their community.
More information on the responsibilities and skills of elected officials
Are you eligible to stand?
You can stand for Council if you are a New Zealand citizen, aged over 18, and enrolled to vote.
What you need to do
Complete and submit a nomination form. Forms will be available here during the nomination period.
Nominations open on Friday 4 July 2025 and must be received by 12 noon on Friday 1 August 2025. Nominations received after 12 noon will not be accepted.
You also need two people to nominate you. The people who nominate you must be enrolled in the ward for which you are standing, but you don’t need to live in the area that you are standing for.
If you’re standing in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward, you will need to be nominated by two people who are on the Māori roll and live in Wellington city. You don’t need to be of Māori descent or on the Māori roll to stand in the Māori ward.
There’s a deposit of $200 including GST to lodge a nomination for each position you are standing for. The funds must be paid at the same time your nomination is lodged. If you receive more than 25% of the votes of the lowest polling successful candidate in your election, then you will get this deposit back.
When you lodge your nomination, you can optionally provide a recent photo and 150-word candidate profile statement that will be sent out with voting papers.
Important things to note
- You cannot stand for election to both the Wellington City Council (as Mayor, Councillor or Community Board member) and the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
- You cannot stand for election to more than one ward or constituency of the same authority. This includes the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward.
- You cannot have concerns or interests in contracts over $25,000 with the Council. However, this may be waived if, before standing, you get approval from the Office of the Auditor-General.
- If you work at Wellington City Council and are considering standing for election, you might be required to take leave of absence.
- If you work at Wellington City Council and are elected as the Mayor or a Councillor, you must resign as an employee before taking up the position as an elected member. However, this may not apply if you are elected to a community board.
- To be affiliated with a specific party, you will require authorisation to adopt the affiliation from the party concerned. Affiliation with a political party is not required to stand.
- If you want to report the behaviour of another candidate, please email election@wcc.govt.nz or phone 04 499 4444.
Election protocols for elected members
The election protocols for elected members provide guidance for the current mayor and councillors to balance their dual role as elected members and candidates seeking re-election.
2025 election protocols for elected members (1.2MB PDF)
Contact us
Electoral Officials
Email: election@wcc.govt.nz