How to enrol

Why vote?

Councils and community boards have a huge role to play in supporting the wellbeing of our people, whānau and communities. That’s why voting in local elections is so important. It’s your chance to pick the people that you think will best represent you in local decision making. Local government elections in New Zealand are held by postal vote, every three years. Here’s all you need to know to enrol and make sure you can have a say on the people who will make decisions for Waipā over the next three years.

In Waipā, you can vote for your mayor, councillors and your community board members. If you are on the Māori electoral roll you can vote for a councillor in the Māori ward. The Māori ward sits alongside the general wards of our district.

Who can enrol?

To vote in local elections, you must first be enrolled. If you are registered to vote in Parliamentary (Central Government) elections, you are automatically enrolled to vote in local government elections.

You’re eligible to enrol and vote if:

you are 18 years or older
you currently live in Aotearoa New Zealand
you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, or hold an open-ended resident visa
have been living in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or at some time in your life.

To check if you are enrolled, and to find enrolment information in te reo and other languages, audio, large print, NZSL and Easy Read, please visit the Electoral Commission’s website.

I’m a ratepayer but don’t live in Waipā

If you own property in Waipā but live elsewhere, you may be able to enrol as a non-resident ratepayer elector and vote in both areas.

Your eligibility depends on where you live and where you own property.

You can check if you are able to receive a ratepayer vote and make your application here or call the Electoral Helpline on 0800 666 049 if you have any questions.
You can also download an enrolment form for ratepayer electors, fill it in and email it to nrr@electionz.com or post it to Ratepayer Elector Enrolments, PO Box 3138, Christchurch, 8140

Getting enrolled

Enrol online

To enrol online you must verify your identity and will need one of the following documents:

New Zealand driver licence
New Zealand passport
your RealMe verified identity.

Enrol to vote online.

Not sure if you are enrolled? Check your enrolment details here and update them if they are not correct.

Check your details

Other ways to enrol

If you are not able to enrol online, there are other ways to enrol or to update your details.

Email enrol@vote.nz
call 0800 36 76 56
Freetext your name and address to 3676

If you move house, you need to let the Electoral Commission know.

Go to other ways to enrol for more information.

Voting documents

To receive voting documents in the post, you need to enrol (or update your address if you have moved) before 5pm Friday 1 August 2025. You can still vote if you haven’t done this, but you’ll need to cast a special vote. We will publish information about special voting closer to election day.

For more information about enrolment eligibility, visit the Electoral Commission website.

Māori roll or general roll?

If you’re of Māori descent and enrolling for the first time, you have an important choice to make. You need to decide which electoral roll you want to be on: the General roll or the Māori roll.

You can also change your roll type at any time, except:

in the three months before a general election
in the three months before local elections (so, until 11 July 2025)
before a parliamentary by-election if the change would move you into the electorate where the by-election is being held.

For more information on the Māori electoral option, please visit the Electoral Commission webpage what is the Māori electoral option?

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Why vote?

Who can enrol?

I’m a ratepayer but don’t live in Waipā