Notice of 2025 Triennial Local Authority Elections and Poll

The following elections and poll will be held by postal vote on Saturday 11 October 2025.

Manawatū-Whanganui Regional Council
Operating as: Horizons Regional Council

(First Past the Post electoral system)
 

• Election of two members for the Horowhenua General Constituency
• Election of two members for the Manawatū-Rangitīkei General Constituency
• Election of four members for the Palmerston North General Constituency
• Election of one member for the Ruapehu General Constituency
• Election of one member for the Tararua General Constituency
• Election of two members for the Whanganui General Constituency
• Election of one member for the Raki Māori Constituency
• Election of one member for the Tonga Māori Constituency

 
Candidate names will be listed in fully random order on the voting papers.
 
In addition to the above elections a Poll will be held to confirm whether Horizons Regional Council electors wish to keep or remove the Māori Constituencies as part of Horizons Regional Council’s representation structure. The outcome of the poll is binding and will determine whether the Māori Constituencies will be retained for the Horizons Regional Council elections in 2028 and 2031.
 
Nominations
Nominations for the listed positions open on Friday 4 July 2025 and must be made on the appropriate nomination form for each position. Nomination forms and a candidate information handbook can be found on the Horizons Regional Council website Candidate Handbook Information Key Documents, and are available during normal office hours from the Horizons Regional Council Offices listed below or by emailing elections@horizons.govt.nz.
 

• Regional House, Palmerston North, 11-15 Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North
• Regional House, Whanganui, 181 Guyton Street, Whanganui
• Woodville Service Centre, Cnr Vogel (SH2) and Tay streets, Woodville
• Marton Service Centre, Hammond Street, Marton
• Taumarunui Service Centre, 34 Maata Street, Taumarunui

 
Completed nomination documents must be received by the electoral officer no later than 12 noon on Friday 1 August 2025. Each nomination must be accompanied by a deposit of $200 incl GST, payable by eftpos, cash or online banking (see nomination form for requirements).
 
Candidates are encouraged to submit a candidate profile statement and colour photograph with their nomination, for sending out with voting documents to electors. The requirements for profile statements and photos are set out in the candidate handbook which is available with the nomination forms. All nomination documents must be lodged at the same time.
 
Electoral Rolls
Preliminary electoral rolls for these elections can be inspected at the main office of each territorial local authority (city/district council) during office hours from Friday 4 July 2025 to Friday 1 August 2025.
 
Electors may enrol or amend their enrolment details on the residential electoral roll by contacting the Electoral Commission:

• Online at vote.nz.
• By texting your name and address to 3676, calling 0800 36 76 56, or by emailing enquiries@elections.govt.nz to ask for a form to be sent to you.

 
Updates to the preliminary electoral roll close at 5pm on Friday 1 August 2025.
 
You can still enrol after this time; however, you will need to cast a special vote. Locations and hours for community voting sessions will be published closer to the voting period.
 
If you are of Māori descent, you may change between the Māori and General electoral roll for this election up until Thursday 10 July 2025.
 
Applications for registration as a ratepayer elector are to be made on the non-resident ratepayer elector enrolment form available wherever copies of the electoral rolls are displayed and must be returned to the relevant District or City Council electoral officer before 5pm Friday 1 August 2025. Online applications for ratepayer elector registration can also be made through the non-resident ratepayer portal: www.electionz.com/ratepayer
 
Warwick Lampp
Electoral Officer – Horizons Regional Council
PO Box 3138 Christchurch 8140
iro@electionz.com
0800 666 048