How to become a candidate in the 2022 local elections

Me pēhea te tū mai hei māngai mō te kōwhiringa pōti 2022

Being a South Waikato District Council Elected Member is an opportunity for you to be part of governing our beautiful rural district in the central north island. Candidate nominations open on 15 July and close at 12 noon on 12 August 2022.

Who can be a candidate

To be a candidate for an elected member position, including Mayor, you must be:

• a New Zealand citizen
• over 18 years old
• enrolled on the electoral roll.
• do not have to live in the district, however the two people who nominate you must be resident in the district, be eligible voters on the voting roll for South Waikato and the nominators details on the nomination form must be identical to their details on the role.

Enrol to vote now

You don't need any special qualifications. Elected Members come from all backgrounds and walks of life.

To be effective you will need to bring a broad range of skills to the role:

• Decision making and strategic thinking.
• Communication and community engagement.
• Relationship building and collaboration.

See Skills and qualities you need to become an Elected Member for further information.

How to become a candidate

• Complete a nomination form before 12 August 2022.
• Get two people to nominate you - they must be over 18 and enrolled to vote in the area you wish to be candidate for.
• Pay a nomination deposit of $200.
• Learn about how Council works and your roles and responsibilities if you get elected.

What candidates need to do

You should:

• find out what is important to your local community
• learn about South Waikato's local government structure and the role of Councillors, and local board members.

See What's involved in being an elected member for further information.

You can also find a meeting of Council and/or the Tirau Community Board. Should you be interested in standing for Council in any capacity, attending Council meetings is a great way to learn first hand what being an Elected Member is all about and a good way to get up to speed with the business of Council.

Getting votes

Lack of knowledge about the candidates and their views is consistently reported as one of the main reasons people don't vote in local elections.

To run a successful campaign, you need to let local residents know the key issues you stand for within the community.

Tips for connecting with people and getting more votes

• Use social media channels like Facebook and other social platforms for wider reach.
• Door knock, address public meetings and talk to the public in shopping malls or weekend markets.
• Look for interview opportunities on the radio, local newspapers, or magazines.
• Advertise your views in newspapers or on billboards. Council has a hoarding policy that will be reviewed prior to the election period and uploaded here.

Regulations for campaigning

There are regulations around campaigning, including:

• how much you can spend
• how and when you can display signage.

For full details, see The Local Electoral Act 2001 on the Legislation website.

Further information

Email the Electoral Officer for more information about becoming a candidate in 2022.