Prospective councillors and mayoral candidates are invited to a meeting at Tauranga City Council chambers tonight to learn more about being a community leader.

Hosted by council chief executive Garry Poole, accompanied by an electoral officer, the meeting starts at 7pm and will brief people interested in taking part in this year's local body elections.

Candidates for this year's local body elections are invited to a meeting at Tauranga City Council chambers tonight.

Nominations for this year's October 12 elections open on Friday and close on August 16. Everyone enrolled should by now have received their enrolment update pack.

Tauranga City Council democracy services manager Yvonne Tatton says how long the meeting runs depends on how many people turn up and the number of questions that are asked.

Tauranga's current Mayor Stuart Crosby took the chief post in 2004 after defeating Jan Beange.

This year he is set to be opposed by Tauranga businessman Kelvin Clout who announced his mayoral candidacy last week.

All residents who haven't received an enrolment pack are not currently enrolled to vote and needs to update their address.

It can be done on line at www.elections.org.nz, free text your name and address to 3676, call 0800 36 76 56, or visit and PostShop. More information about enrolling to vote is available at www.elections.org.nz.