How to Vote

Thames-Coromandel District Council has two decision-making parts, the Council and Community Boards. During the 2025 local election, you can vote for the Mayor, councillors, a councillor from the Māori ward and community board members

If you're enrolled approximately month before election day, you’ll get a voting information pack in the mail. Your voting form can be returned by post, or you can place the form in anyone of our ballot boxes at our area offices.

The pack you receive will tell you:

  • how to vote
  • who the candidates are
  • when you can vote
  • how to find voting places near you. 

For the 2025 local elections voting packs will be delivered between 9 September and 22 September 2025 and voting closes at noon on 11 October 2025.

Check out What to do | Vote NZ for more information, including how to vote whilst you are overseas.

What can you vote for?

Following the decision to establish Māori wards in 2023, Thames-Coromandel District Council undertook a representation arrangement review (review or wards, boundaries, number of elected members etc).  

As a result of all this, elections will be required for the following positions:

  • Mayor (elected ‘at large’)
  • Councillors (10)  Elected from the following wards
    • Coromandel-Colville General Ward (1)
    • Mercury Bay General Ward (3)
    • South East General Ward (2)
    • Thames General Ward (3)
    • Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward (1)
  • Community Board Members (20)
    • Coromandel-Colville Community Board (4)
    • Mercury Bay Community Board (4)
    • Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board (4)
    • Thames Community Board (4)
    • Whangamatā Community Board (4).
  • Waikato Regional Council Members
    • either 2 members from the Thames-Coromandel General Constituency; or
    • 1 member from the Ngā Tai ki Uta Māori Constituency.

In addition, electors of the Thames-Coromandel District Council area will be able to vote on a poll —whether to retain or disestablish the Māori ward for the Thames-Coromandel District Council. The outcome of this binding poll will apply to the 2028 and 2031 triennial elections.

Special Voting

If your name is not on the printed roll at a voting place, you'll need to fill out a 'special declaration vote' form before you can vote. This is known as a 'special vote'.

Your name may not be on the printed roll if:

  • You enrolled after the roll was printed
  • You're voting away from your home electorate
  • You're on the unpublished roll

You can complete a special vote on election day at any one of our Council offices including the Tairua Library.

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