Media release
Now we have candidates, time to do your research
Tuesday 19 August 2025
23 people have put their hats in the ring to stand for election to the Otago Regional Council. Who are they, and what happens next?
Tuesday 19 August 2025
23 people have put their hats in the ring to stand for election to the Otago Regional Council. Who are they, and what happens next?
With changes to the numbers of councillors in Dunedin and Dunstan wards and STV voting across the whole region, the 2025 Otago Regional Council elections will be a little different.
Find out who’s in the running here: www.orc.govt.nz/candidates
Chief Executive Richard Saunders is encouraging people to do their research, find out who is standing and what they stand for.
“As voting is by Single Transferable Vote or STV this year, you’ll be ranking the candidates in order of preference. With STV, your second or third choice could well get in, so you’ll want to make an informed choice.”
Look out in your letterbox for your voting papers to arrive from mid-September. If you didn’t have time (or you forgot) to enrol before August 1, don’t worry.
“From now until election day, 11 October, you can enrol online in order to make what’s called a ‘special vote.’ Special voting is done in person at your nearest territorial council office. Voting opens Tuesday 9 September.”
“We really encourage anyone over 18 to exercise their right to participate, as every vote makes a difference,” Mr Saunders says.
You can vote in the local elections if you are on the electoral roll and live in the Otago region.
If you live outside the Otago region but own property here, you can also vote.
By voting in your local body elections, you have your say on who will make decisions on Otago's future for the next three years.
Otago Regional Council’s work covers all of Otago and our focus is on the environment and natural resources, looking after the things that all of us care about.
The ORC website has all the information anyone might need about how STV works, voting locations closest to you, and how to make a special vote: www.orc.govt.nz/vote
