Te Kahu o Taonui
Ko te mana kei a koe – Your voice, your vote
Voting can feel a bit scary if it’s your first time, or if you haven’t done it in a while. Kei te pai — you’re not alone. This campaign is here to awhi whānau, to make it simple, and to remind us that every single vote adds to our collective voice.
It’s not about knowing all the politics — it’s about making sure our whānau, our marae, our schools, and our whenua are cared for by people we can trust.
Here’s how easy it is to vote this year.
Get Your Pack
If you have enrolled, your voting pack will arrive in the mail between 9–22 September. Everything you need is inside — voting papers, instructions, and a free return envelope.
Fill It In
Take your time, follow the instructions, and tick the boxes for the people you want to represent your whānau and hapori.
Send It Back
Post it in the Freepost envelope (no stamp needed).
Or drop it into an orange voting bin at libraries, supermarkets, or council offices.
Do It Early
Votes must be in by 12 noon, 11 October 2025. Sending it back early makes sure your voice is counted.
Ask For Help
If you don’t get your pack, or something’s not right, contact your local council for a special vote. You can also ask your whānau to awhi you through the process.
Note Enrolled To Vote?
If you enrol or update your address after 1 August 2025, you won’t get your voting papers sent to you in the mail. You’ll need to contact your council’s electoral officer.
The last day to enrol to vote in the local elections is Friday 10 October 2025.
Click here for the list of Electoral Officers in your district.
Council Websites
(Click on the image to be directed to their website)
Tēnei te wā! The Time is now!
Voting doesn’t just happen at the ballot box on one day — it’s easy and flexible. Once your voting pack arrives, you can either post it back in the Freepost envelope or drop it into one of the orange voting boxes in your rohe.
In Te Tai Tokerau and Tāmaki Makaurau, councils are making it even easier with drop-off points in libraries, supermarkets, service centres, and even mobile ballot boxes that travel to marae, schools, and community halls.
This means you don’t have to wait, and you don’t have to travel far. Just fill in your papers, drop them off early, and know your voice is counted by 12 noon, 11 October 2025.
You don’t have to wait until the last minute — once your voting pack arrives, you can drop it off in a ballot box instead of posting it, especially in these last few days.
Ballot boxes are often bright orange and located in council offices, libraries, malls/supermarkets, or other public service locations.
If your area is remote, councils often run mobile ballot box units or “roadies” that travel to marae, halls, schools, or local events so no whānau is left out.
For those with special needs, or who didn’t receive their pack, you can use a special vote drop-off — often available at council service centres or mobile ballot stops.
Where to Find Ballot Boxes:
Far North District Council
-
Kaikohe Service Centre, 5 Memorial Avenue,Kaikohe;
-
Kaitāia Service Centre (Te Ahu), Cnr SH1 & Matthews Ave, Kaitāia;
-
Kerikeri Service Centre (Procter Library),6 Cobham Road, Kerikeri;
-
Kawakawa Service Centre, MacKereth Lane, Kawakawa;
-
Kāeo Service Centre, Leigh Street, Kaeo;
-
Hokianga Service Centre (Ōpononi isite), 29 Hokianga Harbour Drive, Ōpononi;
-
Paihia Library, 6 Williams Road, Paihia;
-
Rāwene Service Centre, 11 Parnell Street, Rāwene (Thursdays only)
Kaipara District Council
-
Dargaville Woolworths
-
Kaiwaka Four Square, Ruawai Four Square and Maungatūroto Four Square
-
Mangawhai New World
-
Dargaville and Mangawhai council offices
-
Dargaville and Mangawhai libraries
Mobile Voting places are available. Find the list here.
Whāngarei District Council
Click here to find where ballot boxes are
You’ve cast your vote — ka rawe!
That’s a powerful step for you, your whānau, and our hapori. But the journey doesn’t end when your envelope is sealed.
Together, we can lift each other up and make sure every voice is heard before 12 noon, 11 October 2025.
Ways You Can Support Others
-
Check in with your whānau — ask your parents, aunties, uncles, or cousins if their packs have arrived and if they’ve voted yet.
-
Help our kaumātua — offer to explain the papers, give them a lift to a drop-off box, or post their envelope for them.
-
Encourage rangatahi — remind first-time voters that their voice matters, and celebrate their courage to step up.
-
Share your story — post a quick pic or message: “Kua pōti au!” (I’ve voted!) and tag a mate.
-
Spread the word — tell friends at mahi, kura, marae, or sport: “Have you voted yet?”
-
Look out for each other — if someone hasn’t received their pack, guide them to contact their council for a special vote.
Every action helps. When we awhi each other, we make sure no one is left out — and our collective whānau voice becomes stronger.