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Nominations for candidates for the local body elections closed at 12 noon on Friday 1 August. We received 41 nominations, and all positions will be contested. You can view a list of confirmed candidates here.

Information sessions for prospective candidates

Candidate information sessions led by Council's Chief Executive, Sharon Mason, were held between May and June 2025. A recording of our candidate information session with our Electoral Officer, Anthony Morton, is below. Each presentation is also available for download.

Candidate handbook

The 2025 Candidate Handbook is now available. You can download a copy here.

The Candidate Handbook contains information about nominations, campaigning and standing for Council, Community Board or Mayor – and is essential reading for anyone considering standing. Hard copies will be available from Council offices and service centres in the coming weeks.

Local Government New Zealand has put together a helpful Candidates' Guide. You can download a free copy here Candidates' Guide.

Election signage

There are set rules and legislative requirements for election signage. The Candidate handbook contains all the details. It is important that candidates read and understand these expectations.

Candidates security

It is important that all candidates understand and consider the potential risks related to privacy, cyber security, personal security and foreign interference that may arise due to election related activities.

The security advice in this document has been put together to provide visibility of potential privacy and security issues, and to explain mitigations that can be put in place.

Contact details and additional resources and links are available at the end of each section.

Communications in the pre-election period

The pre-election period starts three months from polling day. For 2025 the pre-election period starts on Friday 11 July. Taituarā, Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading membership network for professionals working in and for local government, have put together a guide for communications in the pre-election period. You can read the guide here.

Pre-election Report 2025

This report is a statutory requirement under the Local Government Act, published by all councils prior to each local authority election. It provides financial information including plans and forecast expenditure for the next three years, along with a review of expenditure in the previous three year.

The 2025 Pre-election Report is available to download here. Printed copies will be after Friday, 11 July at:

  • Rolleston Council headquarters, 2 Norman Kirk Drive
  • Te Ara Ātea, Rolleston
  • Darfield Library and Service Centre
  • Leeston Library and Service Centre
  • Lincoln Library and Service Centre

Salaries

Elected members receive salaries that vary depending on the size of each council. These salaries are set independently by the Remuneration Authority. The 2025 salaries are detailed in the Candidate Handbook above.