Vote in Central Hawke's BayHe kōrero mā ngā kaipōti

Democracy is at its best when voices of the people are heard. 

There's no level of government in Aotearoa / New Zealand that is more directly involved in the day-to-day happenings within your local community, than your council. 

The mayor, councillors and local board members make decisions that have impact on many aspects of your life and your local community. 

Voting in the local elections is important if you want to have your say on what matters to you. We deliver many services to our communities across the District, such as: 

• maintaining and upgrading our vital roads and waters infrastructure 
• monitoring and protecting our natural environment 

• facilitating and connecting community networks and events  
• managing places and spaces for play, sport and leisure across the district 
• providing community hubs for residents and businesses 
• ensuring much-loved canine family members are registered, and providing strays 
• ensuring quality of water from your tap and at your local beaches 

• keeping focus on local economic development and a thriving community 
• making it safer for cyclists and pedestrians around the district 
• a range of other services eg restaurant health rules, dog registration, alcohol licences, building consents. 

You can vote in the local elections if you’re on the electoral roll and live in Central Hawke’s Bay or own property here.   

Local authority elections are held every three years. Voting opens in this local body election on 16 September 2022 and closes at 12 noon on 8 October. 

You can vote if you are enrolled as a voter with the Electoral Commission. 

Voting papers for the local elections will be sent by mail to all eligible voters (on the electoral roll) from Friday, 16 September 2022.

Voting will start on Friday, 16 September 2022 and close at 12noon on Saturday, 8 October 2022. 

If you are returning your voting paper by mail, you must post your voting paper in a NZ Post box before Tuesday, 4 October to reach the electoral officer before close of voting on 8 October 2022.

If you do not receive a voting paper in the mail, or spoil your voting paper, contact the electoral officer and ask about doing a special vote.

Special Votes can be made in the voting period under particular circumstances. Grounds for Special Votes include:

• Your name is not included on the printed roll used for this election or has been wrongly deleted from that roll.  
• The address shown alongside your name on the printed roll is out of date, and you have been living continuously for one month or more at your new residential address which is in a different ward/community/constituency.
• You have spoilt, lost or not received your ordinary voting documents.
• You are on the unpublished roll.
• You enrolled as an elector after the printed roll closed.
• You have satisfied the Electoral Officer that it will not be possible or practicable for you to vote by casting an ordinary vote without incurring hardship or undue inconvenience. (For example you are going to be overseas during the voting period.)

Special voting will be available at the Central Hawke's Bay District Council Building 28-32 Ruataniwha Street Waipawa, during the voting period 16 September to 12pm on Saturday 8 October. 

You will be able to either pick up your special voting pack from us, or we can post it out to you.  However, the completed voting papers and statutory declaration must be received by the Electoral Officer in the envelopes supplied before the close of voting.