Information for candidates

Candidates can complete their full nomination online this year. First you’ll need to set up a secure account and watch the instruction video.

Visit the election services portal

• Download the nomination form below. You can print it, fill it out and then submit it to our Customer Service Centre at 32 The Square, or post it to the address on the form.
• Or, pick up a form from our Customer Service Centre at 32 The Square, during opening hours.

Mayor nomination paper(PDF, 1MB)

Te Pūao Māori Ward nomination paper(PDF, 1MB)

Te Hirawanui General Ward nomination paper(PDF, 1MB)

Call the electoral office on 0800 922 822 to request that a form to be posted to you.

As a councillor or mayor, you’ll be helping make key decisions about the future of Palmy. That includes:

• Contributing to long-term plans and strategies
• Setting budgets and rates
• Reviewing policies and bylaws
• Monitoring Council’s performance
• Representing the city at community events
• Advocating on important issues

Current Palmerston North City councillors with no additional responsibilities earn an annual salary of $56,759. Additional salary is allocated if councillors are required to undertake greater responsibilities on a permanent basis. The Mayor earns an annual salary of $166,246.

You don’t need a formal qualification. You need to care about the voices of your community and want to serve.

• Quality decision-making – making decisions based on staff advice, community views, experience and informed judgement, as well as being financially prudent and having an eye for risk.
• Leadership – providing direction and making things happen to achieve the council’s vision and goals with an emphasis on strategic priorities.
• Strategic thinking – understanding the city’s priorities and how these relate to national and international developments.
• Cultural awareness – having a good understanding of tikanga Māori and the council’s responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, as well as having an understanding of (and being empathetic to) different peoples and cultures within Council’s jurisdiction.
• Relationship building and teamwork – building productive and supportive relationships with the community, elected members, and external organisations to create and deliver the council’s vision and goals.
• Knowledge of local government – understanding and complying with relevant legislation, as well as the role of the council and its financial language, budgets and processes.

Time commitments vary depending on the position you are elected to and what other committee responsibilities you have. The role of mayor is generally considered to be a full-time role in Palmerston North and remuneration is set on this basis.

You’ll need to commit to at least one full day per week for formal meetings, plus time for community events, smaller group work, and regular reading to prepare for meetings.

No, but you must be on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll (anywhere in New Zealand) and be a New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony). If you don’t reside in the area you are standing for, this needs to be disclosed to electors.

The two people who nominate you must be on the electoral roll within the area you are standing for.

No.

To be eligible you must be a New Zealand citizen and your name must be on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll (anywhere in New Zealand).

You will need to be nominated by two electors whose names appear on the Māori Electoral Roll within Palmerston North.

If you are on the Māori Electoral Roll you can stand in a general ward, and will need to be nominated by two electors whose names appear on the General Electoral Roll within Palmerston North.

You can stand for mayor and for a general or Māori ward councillor but if you are elected to mayor you must take that position.

You cannot stand for more than one ward, or for both the Palmerston North City Council and the Manawatū-Whanganui (Horizons) Regional Council.

Only if it is withdrawn before the close of nominations (noon, Friday 1 August 2025). You cannot withdraw voluntarily after nominations have closed. If you decide to opt out, your name will still appear on the voting document.

If you do change your mind and decide not to run for election after you have been nominated, let the electoral officer know who will talk through the issues with you.

If you become incapacitated with serious illness or injury and are unlikely to be able to perform the functions and duties if elected to office, an application to withdraw your nomination on those grounds can be made. Verification from a doctor or lawyer about your situation will be required.

Contact the electoral officer if you need more information about this process.

You may provide a candidate profile statement when you lodge your nomination.

This is a statement of up to 150 words containing information about yourself and your policies and intentions if elected to office. The profile statement will be included in the voting packs that all electors receive.

Your candidate statement can be submitted in both Māori and English, but the information contained in each language must be substantially consistent. You can have 150 words in English and 150 words in te reo Māori. If you choose to use other languages this is counted within the 150 English word limit.

In addition, your candidate profile statement must state whether or not your principal place of residence is in the area you are seeking election, e.g., ‘My principal place of residence is in the Te Pūao Māori Ward’, or ‘My principal place of residence is not in the Te Pūao Māori Ward’. This is not part of the 150-word limit.

Your profile statement must be true and accurate. The electoral officer is not required to verify or investigate any information included in your statement. Your profile can include a recent passport size and style colour photograph (taken in the last 12 months).

Find out more information on Local Electoral Act 2001, section 61

Election campaigning can start any time before the election and continue up to and including election day.

Yes, you can raise funds and claim expenses from your campaign.

There is very specific legislation about donations and expenses which you need to abide by.

For more information go to Local Electoral Act 2001, sections 103A – 112F.

There is a limit on what you can spend on your campaign and it relates to the population of the area you are standing for.

The maximum amount that can be spent by a candidate cannot exceed the limits set out in the table:

For example, a candidate for the Te Hirawanui General Ward (which has a population in the range of 80,000 – 99,999) can spend up to $50,000 inclusive of GST.

If you stand for more than one position, the amount you can spend is the highest amount for one position. You cannot add positions together to allow you to spend more than the limit.

Please note any expenditure made by a candidate for an election campaign is funded by the candidate and is not refundable by Council to the candidate.

All candidates are required to lodge an Electoral Donations and Expenses Return within 55 days after the day on which the successful candidates are declared to be elected (by 11 December 2025).

If a candidate is outside New Zealand on this day, the return must be filed within 76 days after the day on which the successful candidates are declared to be elected.

If a return is not submitted within the required time period, the non-return will be advised to the New Zealand Police for enforcement.

If a candidate is eligible for a refund of the nomination fee, the return needs to be received before the fee is refunded.

No, elected members cannot use Council resources for their campaigns.

Yes.

Councils have policies or guidelines for web and social media use related to campaigning. They will not permit Council social media pages to be used by anyone (candidates or members of the public) for electioneering or campaigning in the three months before election day. This includes tagging Council in social media posts. Council monitors its online sites and take down any campaign related posts.

Usually community organisations arrange ‘meet the candidate’ sessions. We encourage residents to think about holding a session and will post some guidelines which you may find useful.

Contact details for all candidates will be available from Council’s website.

We have a Signs and Use of Public Spaces bylaw which sets out the rules for election signage.

Read the Signs and Use of Public Spaces bylaw

Electioneering signs are also subject to legislative requirements. The candidate’s information handbook contains all the details. It is important that candidates read and understand these expectations.