Voting opened yesterday for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council elections, giving ratepayers a month to choose who will represent them in their community.

This year, there are more opportunities to vote than ever before, with 20 orange voting bins throughout the district, at Council’s library and service centres and, for the first time, at supermarkets and other local stores.

Voting papers will arrive in mailboxes between September 9 and 22, and can be dropped in one of the orange bins up until midday on Saturday, October 11. A map of the voting bin locations can be found at yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/hub-page/elections.

For those mailing their voting papers using a NZ Post or DX Mail post box, it is recommended to post them no later than Tuesday, October 7, to make sure they are received before the cut-off date.

A total of 55 candidates were standing in this year’s Western Bay of Plenty District Council elections, contesting 33 positions across the district, including eight candidates for Mayor.

People can learn more about the candidates by reading their profiles in the booklets sent out with the voting packs, or by viewing candidate profiles and 90-second videos online at:  yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/hub-page/elections.

“At the last local body elections, only 37.6% of people in the Western Bay voted - that’s just over a third,” said Robyn Garrett, Council’s Governance Manager.

“This year, with the introduction of orange voting bins at local supermarkets, we’re hoping to boost that number, by making it easier than ever to vote. So, get involved and pop your vote in a bin next time you’re getting your groceries or visiting your local library.”

If you are not enrolled to vote, you can still enrol, or update your enrolment details, up until the day before voting closes; however, you will have to cast a special vote.

Special votes are available to those who enrolled to vote after August 1, didn’t receive their voting papers in the mail, lost or damaged their voting papers, are on the unpublished electoral roll, or whose address is out of date.

"To cast a special vote, you will need to come into any of Council’s five library and service centres, complete a declaration and you will be issued your special voting papers to complete and return," Garrett said.

“Special votes make sure everyone still has a place in the election, so even if you’re not fully enrolled yet or need to update your details, there’s still time to be part of the process and have your say."

In 2025, most residents in the Western Bay would vote for a Mayor, their Ward Councillor(s), and their Community Board representatives. Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands residents are not part of a community board area, so they only vote for a Mayor and their Ward Councillor(s).

Western Bay of Plenty District Council uses the First Past the Post (FPP) voting system.

"That means you simply tick the name of the person(s) you most want to represent you in each category — the candidate with the most votes wins."

For the first time ever, Western Bay will have a Māori Ward seat, following a Council decision in 2023 to establish the seat for the 2025 and 2028 local body elections. Council then recommitted to a Māori seat in 2024 as part of the Central Government’s requirement to either hold a poll or remove Māori Wards.

This year, alongside voting for local representatives, people will also vote in a referendum on whether to keep the Māori Ward for the 2028 and 2031 elections.

The result of the referendum will be announced alongside preliminary election results on Saturday, October 11.

Final results will be announced between October 14-17.

For more information on Elections 2025, visit: yourplace.westernbay.govt.nz/elections