Information for candidates

As an elected member, you will:

• Represent the interests of the regional council
• make decisions that will help define the future for our communities – especially decisions that relate to achieving our five community outcomes
• formulate our strategic direction and priorities through our Long Term Plan
• help decide how Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s money is spent
• help manage our assets.

On any given day, an elected member may:

• read and prepare for the upcoming week's meetings
• vote in various decision-making meetings and committees
• engage with the public to hear their views
• attend events like public meetings
• take part in community activities

On top of this, there will be responsibilities that relate to your specific role.

Chair

Regional Councils are led by a Chair, unlike a city or district council who have an elected Mayor. Once the Regional Council has been formed, councillors will vote and elect a Chair themselves.

Councillors

Councillors make decisions that address the needs of the Bay of Plenty and the constituency they represent. Bay of Plenty Regional Council has councillors who are elected through both the general and the Māori electoral rolls.

On a typical day, a councillor might:

• attend a committee meeting
• read through agendas and minutes and other papers to gain background understanding of an issue
• hear an update on progress in preventing the spread of kauri dieback
• speak to residents as part of a consultation about a new bylaw
• talk to media about the state of our region’s waterways

Being an elected member at any level is a serious commitment, even though your responsibilities and hours will vary according to the office you represent and serve.

It is also a public role and will put you in the spotlight. You will be called upon to speak at meetings and events, and the media may ask for your views on certain topics.

If you are thinking to become a candidate, you should consider how you might balance the requirements and responsibilities of the role with other commitments in your life.

You will often work outside of normal working hours, in the evenings and on weekends.

Time management skills are essential as being an elected member. Representing the views of the Bay of Plenty community requires a lot of preparation.

You will be expected to read:

• agendas and minutes
• plans and policies
• bylaws
• reports
• submissions
• advice and recommendations
• various other materials.

You will need to:

• be flexible
• prioritise tasks
• manage your time effectively.

Knowledge of local iwi, te ao Māori and tikanga is an asset in your role as an elected member.

We are committed to meeting our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi and our broader statutory obligations to Māori, as well as, developing our partnership with Māori.

You will be in the public eye as a part of your role.

You will often be called upon to:

• speak publicly at meetings and events
• give comments to media on certain issues.

You will need to be able to:

• listen and relate to the people you represent
• empathise with them
• consider their views in your decision-making.

You should be able to confidently communicate your own views and opinions when speaking publicly and when engaging with the public.

A large part of the role will involve technology, so you should know how to use:

• email
• MS Teams
• Zoom
• a smartphone
• a computer or tablet.
• Strategic thinking and decision-making

You need to make use of a range of sources when making decisions. For example, you will get advice from council staff, listen to the views of your community, and consider your own experience and opinions.

You need to be able to:

• consider opposing views
• consider the financial and long-term consequences of decisions
• keep an open mind.

As a part of your role, you need to build and maintain productive relationships and networks.

You should be willing to respectfully engage with people from different cultures and disciplines, including community members and council employees.

You must be:

• a New Zealand citizen
• over 18 years old
• enrolled on the electoral roll.

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.

• Nominations open Thursday 18 June, and close 12 noon on Thursday 16 July.
• Get two people to nominate you - they must be over 18 and enrolled to vote in the constituency you wish to be candidate for.
• Pay a nomination deposit of $200 - you may get a refund, depending on how many votes you receive.
• Learn about how the council works and your roles and responsibilities if you get elected.

You should:

• find out what is important to your constituency area
• learn about the structure of Bay of Plenty Regional Council – including the different constituency areas, which includes three Māori seats.

Read the section What's involved in being an elected member for more information.

Watch previous meetings of the Regional Council on our YouTube page and read the agendas and minutes of past meetings to get an understanding of the types of issues we cover.

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.

Contact the Electoral Officer

Email the Electoral Officer at wlampp@electionz.com for more information about becoming a candidate in 2026.

Vote Local information for candidates

Taituarā — Local Government Professionals Aotearoa, its Electoral Reference Group, and Local Government New Zealand have created the Vote Local website to provide additional information about the elections. 

Visit the website for further information for candidates including their Candidates Guide