Local elections are held every three years on the second Saturday in October in New Zealand to elect local government politicians using postal voting.
Unlike general elections, elections for the city, district and regional councils of New Zealand have a fixed election date. Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, elections must be held on the "second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001. The last local body elections were held on 8 October 2016. The next will be held on 12 October 2019. Local elections are mostly organised by district and city councils, with other organisations (for example the Electoral Commission, the Department of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Health) having peripheral roles. The elections determine the membership of district, city, and regional councils, and the elected parts of district health boards. In some places, licensing trusts and local boards are also voted for. Elections are held by postal voting.
Under New Zealand law, those who are eligible to enrol (18 year of age, lived in New Zealand continuously for at least one year at some time, and are either a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident) must do so. People can vote in the area where they live, and it is up to voters to decide which address they consider their home (e.g. a student may choose to enrol where they live during term time, or their parents' place if they go home during the holidays). If a person owns property in which they do not live, they can also apply to be put onto the ratepayer roll for local elections. That is, an individual may be eligible to vote in more than one voting area for local elections.
Elections by cityAuckland local elections, 2010Auckland local elections, 2013Auckland local elections, 2016Dunedin local elections, 2010Rangitikei local elections, 2010Rangitikei local elections, 2013Rangitikei local elections, 2016Wellington local elections, 1992Wellington local elections, 2010Wellington local elections, 2013Wellington local elections, 2016Mayoral electionsAuckland mayoral election, 2010Auckland mayoral election, 2013Auckland mayoral election, 2016Christchurch mayoral election, 1876Christchurch mayoral election, 1878Christchurch mayoral election, 1881Christchurch mayoral election, 1935Christchurch mayoral by-election, 1936Christchurch mayoral election, 2001Christchurch mayoral election, 2004Christchurch mayoral election, 2007Christchurch mayoral election, 2010Christchurch mayoral election, 2013Christchurch mayoral election, 2016Dunedin mayoral election, 1865Dunedin mayoral election, 2004Dunedin mayoral election, 2007Dunedin mayoral election, 2010Dunedin mayoral election, 2013Hamilton mayoral election, 2013Hamilton mayoral election, 2016Invercargill mayoral election, 2010Napier mayoral election, 1917Wellington City mayoral election, 1875Wellington City mayoral election, 1876Wellington City mayoral election, 1901Wellington City mayoral election, 1903Wellington City mayoral election, 1905Wellington City mayoral election, 1907Wellington City mayoral election, 1909Wellington City mayoral by-election, 1910Wellington City mayoral election, 1911Wellington City mayoral by-election, 1912Wellington City mayoral election, 1913Wellington City mayoral election, 1915Wellington City mayoral election, 1917Wellington City mayoral election, 1919Wellington City mayoral election, 1921Wellington City mayoral election, 1923Wellington City mayoral election, 1925Wellington City mayoral election, 1927Wellington City mayoral election, 1929Wellington City mayoral election, 1931Wellington City mayoral election, 1933Wellington City mayoral election, 1935Wellington City mayoral election, 1938Wellington City mayoral election, 1941Wellington City mayoral election, 1944Wellington City mayoral election, 1977Wellington City mayoral election, 1992Wellington City mayoral election, 2001Wellington City mayoral election, 2004Wellington City mayoral election, 2007Wellington City mayoral election, 2010Wellington City mayoral election, 2013Wellington City mayoral election, 2016