Local Elections

Council

Elections are held every three years to elect mayors, councillors, community board members, and other positions of other local bodies.

The next local elections will be held this year, on 11 October 2025.

The elections are an opportunity for you to help shape what the Timaru District will look like into the future, both by voting and considering standing for election.

Have questions or need help? Please contact elections@timdc.govt.nz or call 03 687 7200.

This webpage contains general information about the election. For more specific information, go to:

Enrol

Stand

Vote

If you are looking for information about past local elections, refer to the link at the bottom of this webpage.

Local Elections in the Timaru District

Local Authority No. of Candidates elected
Timaru District Council  
Mayor 1 Mayor
Council (9 Councillors):  
  • Geraldine Ward
1 Councillor
  • Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward
2 Councillors
  • Timaru Ward
6 Councillors
Geraldine Community Board 6 Members
Pleasant Point Community Board 5 Members
Temuka Community Board 5 Members
Environment Canterbury (South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi Constituency) 2 Members
Geraldine Licensing Trust 6 Members

All elections are held by postal vote and conducted under the First Past the Post (FPP) system.

Which ward am I in?

The elections you can participate in depends on the address that you are enrolled at (with the Electoral Commission).

Use this map to find your ward and the elections that you can vote in.

If you think you are enrolled at the wrong address, go to the Vote NZ website to update it. If you own property in the district but live elsewhere, find out more about enrolling on the Ratepayers Roll here.

Key Dates

Key dates for the 2025 local elections are:

By 4 July 2025Public Notice of election, calling for nominations, roll open for inspection
4 July 2025Nominations open. Electoral Roll opens for inspection
1 August 2025Nominations close at 12 NOON. Electoral Roll closes
6 August 2025 (as soon as practicable)Public Notice of candidate names and special voting places
9 - 22 September 2025Delivery of voting documents (may occur at any point during this period)
9 September – 11 October 2025Voting and Special voting period. Early processing period
11 October 2025Election Day (voting closes at 12 NOON). Progress/Preliminary results announced as soon as practicable
11 - 16 October 2025Official Count
16 - 19 October 2025 (as soon as practicable)Declaration of Final Result, and Public Notice of results

Nominated candidates

Click here to see all nominated candidates for Council (all elections) and the Geraldine Licensing Trust.

Click here to see all nominated candidates for Environment Canterbury.

Public Notices