Thinking of standing for Council? Here’s where to begin

If you’ve ever thought about running for Council, or wondered what the job involves, Waikato District Council’s 2025 Pre-election Report is a great place to start.

Released recently, the report gives a clear picture of where Council is now, where its heading, and the key challenges and opportunities shaping our future. 

It’s designed to help you understand what you’d be stepping into if you decide to put your name forward – as mayor, councillor or community board member, and why your voice could matter at the decision-making table. 

Chief Executive, Craig Hobbs, says the report plays a key role in helping people feel prepared and confident ahead of this year’s upcoming local elections.  

“Standing for Council is a big decision,” says Craig. “The report gives you a real sense of what the job involves and how your perspective could make a difference. 

“We want everyone in our district to feel empowered to take part in the election, whether that’s by standing, voting, or getting more involved in their local community.” 

The report includes an overview of our financial position, progress on our Long-Term Plan, updates on key infrastructure projects, and a breakdown of key issues facing Council now and into the future. It also highlights the opportunities and responsibilities that come with being elected to Council. 

Even if you’re not putting your name forward, the report is still packed with helpful insights. It explains how Council works, what’s changing, and what’s being done to prepare our district for the future — including upgrades to critical infrastructure and work to strengthen partnerships with mana whenua and community organisations. 

A decision facing voters this year is a binding poll on whether to keep or remove Maaori wards in the Waikato district. Maaori wards provide dedicated seats on Council that support Maaori representation in local decision-making. 

While the result of the poll will be known in 2025 from the poll result, it will be three years before it is actioned. If the result supports keeping Maaori wards, elections for these seats will be held in 2028 and 2031. If the result supports removing Maaori wards, no elections for these seats will be held from 2028. 

“This is a significant decision for our district,” says Craig. 

“We want to ensure the community understand how the process works and what the outcomes could look like whichever way the vote goes.” 

You can read the full Pre-election Report on our website below.

https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/local-elections-2025/stand