If you’re thinking about standing for Bay of Plenty Regional Council in the upcoming 2025 elections, register to attend our Candidates Information Webinar. The session is an opportunity to learn more about the elections process, information about candidate guidelines and what it means to be a Regional Councillor.
Date: Wednesday 18 June 2025
Time: 6pm to 7.30pm
Please register here so that the webinar link can be sent to you.
If you are unable to attend the online session, we'll be recording it and making it available for you to watch after the event.
This booklet outlines information which may be of interest to potential candidates and others interested in election issues with general information on the 2025 election. It should be used as a guide only, and candidates or other people requiring more detailed information should contact the electoral officer or deputy electoral officer directly.
Who can become a candidate for the Regional Council?
You must be:
To be effective you will need to bring a broad range of skills to the role:
See Skills and qualities you need to become an elected member for further information.
You should:
Read the section What's involved in being an elected member below 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.
There are regulations around campaigning, including:
Email the Electoral Officer at wlampp@electionz.com for more information about becoming a candidate in 2025.
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
What’s involved in being a Regional Councillor
As an elected member, you will:
2025 Elected Members' induction programme
There will be a schedule of induction, meetings, and events in the period October - December 2025 as part of being introduced to the role of an elected member.
A day in the life of an elected member
On any given day, an elected member may:
On top of this, there will be responsibilities that relate to your specific role.
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 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:
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.
Skills and qualities you need to become an elected member
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:
You will need to:
Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi
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:
You will need to be able to:
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:
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:
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.
