Local electoral reform

Local government plays a key role in our democracy.

Local elections are vital to shaping the future of our communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. They give us the chance to choose the leaders who make important decisions about the services and infrastructure we rely on every day—like roads, parks, water, and community facilities. By participating in local elections, we ensure our councils reflect our needs and values, giving everyone a voice in decisions that impact our lives.

It's important that local elections are supported and recognised, so councils can properly represent the communities they serve.

Despite efforts to raise awareness and encourage more people from different backgrounds to stand for office and vote, turnout in the October 2022 local elections was only 40%. This continues a worrying trend of declining interest in local democracy across Aotearoa, which we need to reverse to ensure a strong, healthy democracy.

Electoral Reform Working Group

The National Council of LGNZ set up the Electoral Reform Working Group to lead efforts to strengthen local government’s democratic mandate, with a focus on increasing participation in local elections.

Members of the working group are:

  • Mayor Hon Dr Nick Smith, Nelson City (Chair)
  • Mayor Campbell Barry, Hutt City
  • Councillor Toni Boynton, Whakatāne District, Co-Chair Te Maruata
  • Professor Andrew Geddis, University of Otago
  • Mayor Susan O'Regan, Waipā District
  • Mayor Rehette Stoltz, Gisborne District

You can contact the group at electoralreform@lgnz.co.nz.

Issues paper

The working group’s issues paper focusses on five key topics:

  • How well the public understands local government and why it matters
  • Understanding the candidates and their policies
  • Voting methods
  • How elections are run and promoted
  • The possibility of moving to four-year terms (including how this would work)

Read the paper


Provide your feedback

Complete and return the submission form by email to electoralreform@lgnz.co.nz by midnight Sunday 19 January 2025.

Download the submission form

You can also complete a submission online here.

Position paper

Feedback on the issues paper will help shape the group’s position paper. A draft will be open for discussion from March to May 2025, with the final version being launched at the SuperLocal Conference in July 2025.

Submissions

Our previous submissions on local electoral reform can be viewed below.