Make sure you are enrolled to vote!
Voting packs have now been delivered and you need to get your completed ballot paper back – either in the mail by 7th of October OR at a ballot box by noon on the 11th of October. If you are not enrolled or your papers didn't arrive, they won't now, so you will need to get to a ballot location no later than the 10th October for a Special Vote. Make your vote count!!
The Electoral Commission’s website along with that of Waikato District Council contain a lot of useful information including details on how to enrol on the general and Māori roll, key dates and other important information. Official website guidance can be found here:
https://vote.nz/local-elections/about/local-elections-2025/
https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your-council/local-elections-2025
For Waikato District Council, you will have until 12 noon on Saturday 11 October 2025 to vote. It’s a postal vote with a return envelope provided, so make sure the completed voting paper is in the mail by 6th of October but completed voting papers may also be hand delivered to ballot boxes found at these locations from mid September up until noon on Saturday 11 October 2025:
Ngaruawahia Head Office, 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia;
Huntly Office, 142 Main Street, Huntly;
Raglan Office, 7 Bow Street, Raglan;
Te Kauwhata Office, 1 Main Road, Te Kauwhata;
Tuakau Office, 2 Dominion Road, Tuakau.
I am asking for your vote…but more importantly that you vote! In the last elections, less than one in three eligible voters in the Waikato voted for a Mayor - third lowest voter turnout in NZ.
And the legacy of what we got is debt rising from $178.8 million to a projected $347 million IN JUST THREE YEARS under this new Mayor. The interest to be serviced along with depreciation to be funded will be the current Mayor's legacy that we will all have to live with for many years.
Yes, other councils across NZ increased debt and had high rate increases (averaging 15%, still high but a quarter lower than WDC's) but the increase of more than 80 additional senior staff on more than 100K each is not the norm and is not what has happened elsewhere. Focus on affordability was lost and must now be restored - it's time to stop this runaway freight train of rates. Many simply can't afford a cumulative increase in general rate component of over 19% and say they are being rated out of their homes. Those paying targeted rates for water and sewage facing an increase in just three years of around 40%.
That's why your vote matters. If you are happy to carry on with rocketing rate rises, vote for the status quo.
If like many that have made their voices heard through the recent LTP submissions you know that the rate rises that the current Mayor's leadership have driven - then vote for a change. We can't cut or defer projects our way to new efficiency and savings - we need a reset on how Council operates.
New and different ways of operating. Shared services with our neighboring councils, not only on Waters but across the board, must be given priority. Empowering communities so their voice, their choice and control see us return to a future we can actually afford.
Continue reviewing Waikato District Council's own emissions from pools, street lighting, vehicles and other sources through an emissions lens.
Enable and support Waikato District Council to develop additional renewable energy production from solar and wind by working with local communities.
Ensure readiness and resources for civil defence coordination in response to more frequent and severe storm and heavy rain events.
Support and enable private and community wetland creation, restoration to improve water quality and gully restoration and planting projects.
Support community initiatives and action groups focused on ecological and pest control, such as Environmental Action Tuakau and Predator Free Tamahere.
Support sensible and workable waste minimisation initiatives and give more regard to learnings from Xtreme Zero Waste at Raglan.
Ensure unused or surplus council-owned land is made available for development by others, such as Bridge Housing, for affordable housing purposes.
Prioritise and action existing BluePrints community masterplans that appear to have been abandoned in the current term of council.
Promote innovative Three Waters solutions such as mobile MBR wastewater treatment plants funded by developers to allow them to proceed at their own pace.
Ensure that while growth must pay for growth, council-controlled infrastructure does not inhibit such growth.
Proactively support companies and businesses that bring large-scale employment to the district, including Sleepyhead and airport precinct projects.
Support and assist retailers and shop owners with security by innovative use of street furniture and cameras as deterrents.
Introduce more forms of participatory democracy to engage communities that feel disconnected from council.
Introduce public forums ahead of full council meetings, citizen assemblies, and strengthen community boards and committees.
Review senior staffing costs and structure that increased by an extra $12 million annually in three years, adding to rates unaffordability.
Bring the nearly doubled debt from $178.8 million to projected $347 million back under control by focusing on core activities.
Increase amalgamation of services with other councils across a range of services to address rates unaffordability, which is the main issue for communities.
Reset how services are delivered by increasing community empowerment to deliver projects, doing more with less and delivering what is needed.
Continue supporting sports grounds, parks and dog runs including infrastructure to make them usable, which is crucial for livable communities.
Facilitate groups running events in public spaces by enabling rather than imposing hurdles such as excessive traffic management.
Work with hall committees throughout the district to ensure targeted rates are appropriate for sustained operation, repairs and maintenance.
Lobby government for completion of Southern Link with full ramps and maintain State Highway 1B as a highway to preserve a second ring road required in approximately 30 years.
Lobby KiwiRail and government for increased rail connectivity for Te Kauwhata, Pokeno and Tuakau through commuter rail introduction in partnership with Waikato Regional Council.
Preserve extra runway designation for Waikato District Council’s shareholding in Hamilton Airport to future-proof and increase the value of the shareholding.
Ensure strong governance oversight of the Three Waters council controlled organisation established with Hamilton and ensure promised savings are delivered.
Promote innovative three waters solutions such as mobile MBR wastewater treatment plants funded by developers to allow them to proceed at their own pace.
Support sensible waste minimisation initiatives and review learnings from Xtreme Zero Waste and recent wheelie bin issues in Tuakau.