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2025 Elections
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Elections for Otago Regional Council are held every three years at the same time as elections for city and district councils.
The last election was held on Saturday, 8 October 2022. The next local elections for Otago Regional Council will be held on Saturday, 11 October 2025, by postal vote using the Single Transferable Voting (STV) electoral system.
- Check you are enrolled to vote: from now to Friday 1 August 2025
- Think about being a candidate: from now ...
- Candidate nominations open: Friday 4 July 2025
- Candidate nominations close (12 noon): Friday 1 August 2025
- Voting documents posted out: Tuesday 9 September 2025
- Voting opens: Tuesday 9 September 2025
- Make a special vote: From Tuesday 9 September 2025
- Voting closes (12 noon): Saturday 11 October 2025
- Progress results available: after 2pm Saturday 11 October 2025
- Preliminary results published: Sunday 12 October 2025
- Final results announced - Official Result Declaration: Thursday 16 October 2025
Check you are enrolled
To avoid disappointment, make sure you are on the current roll
Names of confirmed candidates are updated to the Electionz page as soon as the applications have been received and processed.
The full profiles of the confirmed candidates for the ORC 2025 triennial elections will be uploaded after candidate nominations close (1 August 2025), but before voting opens (9 September 2025).
You've reviewed the candidates, you know how you're ranking your candidates, what next?
If you have received your voting papers (by mid-September)
- rank your candidates
- pop your completed (and properly filled out) voting papers into the envelope
- drop it in a ballot bin (before 10 Oct) OR any NZ Post or DX Mail postbox (before 7 Oct)
If you haven't received voting papers, didn't enrol until after 1 August, or know you're on the unpublished roll you need to complete a special vote.
- Pop into any District or City council office.
- Ask to submit a special vote, and they'll be able to give you a voting form and declaration.
- rank your candidates
- pop your completed (and properly filled out) into the envelope
- drop it in a ballot bin (before 10 Oct) OR any NZ Post or DX Mail postbox (before 7 Oct) (you can complete it and put it in the ballot box while in the office)
You can check your details on the electoral roll to see which electorate you're in for election day at elections.nz.
Use our map below if you're unsure which Otago constituency you reside in (if you're on a mobile device, you can tap on the blue 'Map' button to expand the map).
Enter your address to find which constituency you live in. Note addresses are not saved.
Constituencies in Otago
|
Constituency |
Communities of interest |
|
Moeraki Constituency |
Comprising the Otago portion of the Waitaki District territorial area, being part of the Ahuriri and Corriedale wards, and the entirety of the Oamaru ward and Waihemo ward. |
|
Dunedin Constituency |
Comprising the central Dunedin and the Waikouaiti Coast, West Harbour, Otago Peninsula and Saddle Hill community board areas located within the Dunedin City territorial area. |
|
Dunstan Constituency |
Comprising the Central Otago District and Queenstown Lakes District territorial areas. |
|
Molyneux Constituency |
Comprising the Clutha District territorial area and Mosgiel-Taieri and Strath-Taieri community board areas located within the Dunedin City territorial area. |
The population that each member will represent is as follows:
|
Constituency |
Population
|
Members |
Population per member |
|
Moeraki Constituency |
22,300 |
1 |
22,300 |
|
Dunedin Constituency |
115,200 |
5 |
23,040 |
|
Dunstan Constituency |
78,800 |
4 |
19,700 |
|
Molyneux Constituency |
38,300 |
2 |
19,150 |
|
Total |
254,600 |
12 |
21,217 |
In accordance with section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents must be within the range of 21,217 +/- 10% (19,096 – 23,338), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.
All of the proposed constituencies fall within the stipulated range.
Phone: 0800 474 082
Email: elections@orc.govt.nz
Otago Regional Council's Election Officer
Anthony Morton
Deputy Elections Officer
Di Railton
Are you enrolled?
Want to vote on the future of the Otago region? You need to be enrolled.
Ready to vote?
Choose a candidate who represents you.
How does Single Transferable Vote work?
Make sure your vote counts in the local body elections. You do not need to rank all candidates, just those you prefer most.
Council candidates
See who has submitted their nomination so far. Candidates have until Noon, Friday 1 August to submit their applications. This Electionnz page is updated as nominations are received and processed.
Candidate profiles
Read the candidates profiles for the 2025 local elections.
Notice Of 2025 Triennial Local Authority Elections
Elections will be held by postal vote on Saturday 11 October 2025.
Further Notice of Election
Nominations have closed for the 2025 triennial local authority elections. Listed here are details of the confirmed candidates for Otago Regional Council.
Information on standing for the Otago Regional Council was included as part of joint presentations throughout Otago. Items covered included how the council is structured, the role and responsibilities of elected representatives, skills required, anticipated time commitments, meeting schedules, and an overview of the nomination and election processes.
