How to become a candidate

Candidate nominations open on 15 July and close at 12noon on 12 August 2022.

Who can be a candidate

To be a candidate for an elected member position, you must be:

You don’t need any special qualifications. Elected members come from all backgrounds and walks of life.

To be effective you will need to bring a broad range of skills to the role:

Complete a nomination form before 12 August 2022
Get two people to nominate you – they must be over 18 and enrolled to vote in the area you wish to be a candidate for
Pay a nomination deposit of $200 – you may get a refund, depending on how many votes you receive
Learn about how the council works and your roles and responsibilities if you get elected

You should:

Find out what is important to your local community
Learn about South Taranaki’s local government structure and the role of councillors, and local board members

You can also attend a Council or community board meeting. See when they’re happening here.

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.

Tips for connected with people and getting more votes

Use social media channels like Facebook and twitter for wider reach
Door knock, address public meetings and talk to the public at weekend markets or in town.
Look for interview opportunities on the radio, local newspapers, or magazines
Advertise your views in newspapers or on billboards