File photo. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Regional and Unitary Councils Aotearoa is concerned there aren't enough candidates putting their names forward for the 2025 local elections.
With nominations closing tomorrow, several councils across the country do not have enough candidates to fill the positions that need to be filled in certain electorates, or have vacancies that will go uncontested.
As of Wednesday afternoon across the country's 16 regional and unitary councils, 47 regional council seats either wouldn't have an election, or would trigger a by-election because of the lack of candidates.
Te Uru Kahika was calling for more New Zealanders to put their names forward for the 2025 local elections.
New Zealand's longest serving regional council chair and current chair of Bay of Plenty Regional Council Doug Leeder was encouraging people who were considering standing to go for it.
"This is about democracy being exercised by people in the community," he said.
Regional and unitary councils make critical decisions that affect the environment, public transport, water quality, land use, flood protection, and climate resilience.
"If you want a say in how your region prepares for climate change, manages rivers and lakes, or invests in public transport, this is your opportunity to step up," he said.
"Councillors don't need to be experts, but they do need to be people who can listen, think about the issues, and want to make their communities and environment a great place to be.
Leeder said if there was not enough candidates to fill a council's vacancies then a by-election was called.
Leeder could not recall that happening in his 24 years in local government.
Leeder himself will not be standing for re-election.
Across the 16 regional and unitary councils Horizons Tonga Māori Regional Constituency and the Tasman District Council's Te Tai o Aorere Māori Ward have no candidates.
While all 16 councils have constituencies or wards with either less nominations than vacancies or uncontested vacancies.
District Councils also lacking in numbers
A number of district councils also appear to be a few candidates short.
Election management services company electionz.com is tracking candidates for a number of councils.
As of Wednesday afternoon data published on its website showed no nominations had been received for the Mayoralty vacancy at the Rotorua Lakes Council, while Central Hawke's Bay District Council, Chatham Islands Council, Hurunui District Council, Manawatū District Council and Selwyn District Council all had just one nomination.
Several council at large or ward vacancies, as well as community boards also had less candidates than vacancies or were uncontested.
Among them is Carterton District Council which had four nominations for eight council seats and Chatham Islands Council which had three nominations for eight council seats.
Not the first time numbers have been low ahead of deadline
In 2022 Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) also noted "concerningly low" nominations in some parts of the country.
On Tuesday, LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said electoral officers were reporting that overall candidate nomination numbers were generally on par with the same time last election.
"[We] know from past elections that many candidates choose to wait until the final week to submit their nominations," she said.
"We strongly encourage candidates not to leave things to the last day, to allow time for information to be checked and any issues resolved."
Nominations close at noon on Friday, 1 August.
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