You can help govern one of the fastest-growing cities in New Zealand by joining Tauranga City Council as an elected member.
You can stand for mayor, ward councillor, or councillor at large.
Eligibility
To stand for Tauranga City Council, you must be:
- a New Zealand citizen
- aged at least 18
- enrolled on the parliamentary electoral roll
Elected members come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and no special qualifications are needed. You don’t even need to live locally.
However, the most effective elected members have strong skills in communication, strategic thinking and building relationships.
Important steps
- Complete a nomination form before 16 August
- Get two people to nominate you. They must be over 18, and must be enrolled to vote in the area in which you are standing (eg, if you are standing in Te Papa/Welcome Bay ward, the nominators must live in that ward)
- Pay a $200 deposit
- Learn about how council works and your roles/responsibilities if elected
- Make your views public by campaigning for election
Candidate nominations open on 19 July and close on 16 August. Electoral officers will publicise candidates’ names by 21 August.
Rules
While campaigning for election, you must follow rules under The Local Electoral Act 2001.
Resources
We Build – candidate’s guide (782kb pdf)
LGNZ video 1 – Standing for local government
LGNZ video 2 – Elected member skills and behaviours
LGNZ video 3 – How councils work
LGNZ video 4 – Nomination requirements
LGNZ video 5 – The first month after the elections
Last Reviewed: 08/05/2019