VOTE
You will get a voting pack in the mail sometime between 9 September 2025 and Monday 22 September 2025. This will have:
- your voting forms,
- information on how to fill out the forms,
- information about the candidates,
- an envelope to post your voting forms back.
You can vote in two different ways:
- put your vote in the post, you need to do this by Tuesday 7 October 2025
- put your vote in one of the orange voting bins, the last day to do that is 12noon on Saturday 11 October 2025.
You will find a list of the orange voting bin locations on this website when voting opens.
If your voting pack doesn’t arrive you can still do a special vote.
If you would like support to vote at home or to cast a special vote – contact our electoral team by calling 06 306 9611 between 9am and 4pm or sending an email to elections@swdc.govt.nz
Voting when you’re on the unpublished roll
If you’re on the unpublished roll, your name will not appear on the printed electoral roll. You need to get in touch with us via phone 06 306 9611 or email elections@swdc.govt.nz as your voting papers will not be sent to you in the mail.
Voting from overseas
If you’re overseas, you can enrol to vote in the local elections if you are a New Zealand citizen who has been in New Zealand within the last 3 years, or you’re a New Zealand permanent resident who has been in New Zealand in the last 12 months.
Make sure you’re correctly enrolled with an overseas postal address to get your voting papers. You can’t download or return voting papers electronically for local elections.
Voting when you own property in a council area, but don’t live there
We have a ratepayer roll for people who pay rates on a property but live in another part of the country. In that situation, a person can vote in the area where they live, and the area where they pay rates.
Why should you vote?
This is your chance to say who you want to represent you when making decisions for our district over the next three years. The people elected to Council will make many decisions on your behalf. They will set South Wairarapa District Council’s rates and decide how the community’s money should be spent to achieve a sustainable district.
This year you will also be asked to vote for Māori Wards. Your vote to keep or remove the Māori Ward for South Wairarapa will apply for the 2028 and 2031 local elections.
Need help?
Phone: 06 306 9611
Email: elections@swdc.govt.nz