There are no formal qualifications required to stand for council as Mayor and/or a Councillor.

Elected members are representing the community they stand for, so being available and able to canvas the opinions, wants and needs of the community is important. 

More information is available in the Local Government NZ Candidates' Guide 

Frequently asked Questions are available here, including how much a councillor would be paid, information about election signs, and much more...  

Election campaigning can start at any time and continue up to and including election day. You will need to understand the different requirements around physical signage that are contained in our Elections Signs Policy. 

Election advertising, using any media, must show an authorisation statement setting out the true name and contact details of the person or persons for whom or at whose direction it is published. [Section 113, Local Electoral Act 2001] 

This includes election advertising on signs, in newspapers, on flyers and posters, on a vehicle and on election websites, and on social media. 

Contact details can be one or more of the following:

• a residential or business address;
• an email address;
• a post office box number;
• a phone number; or
• a link to a page on an Internet site, if the page contains one or more of the contact details specified above.
• a social media site of a candidate must also contain an authorisation statement that meets the requirements above 

These requirement reflect a recent change to Local Electoral Act 2001. 

Election material cannot contain:

• any untrue statement defamatory of any candidate (e.g., under the Defamation Act 1992)
• an imitation voting document with names of the candidates and any direction or indication on how a person should vote, or that is likely to influence the voter. 

There is a limit to how much you can spend on your campaign, and this includes donations and joint campaigning. The maximum spend includes GST. 

Note that if you were standing for the Mayoralty position and a ward, the maximum expenditure limit is $7,000; as the amounts are not combined. 

Campaign expenses as required by legislation specify that all expenses incurred before or during the three-month period for campaigning, must be included in the Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses. Nomination deposits, voluntary labour or election night functions are not electoral expenses and do not need to be included. More information is available in the Candidate Handbook

You and/or your supporters cannot use Council resources for campaigning purposes. 

Council resources include, but are not limited to, the council's logo, crest or branding, website, Facebook page or any other forms of social media, tablets, computers, iPads, laptops, mobile phones, stationery, photocopiers, stamps, cars or vehicles, meeting rooms and venues (except those available for public hire and paid for at the usual rates for the public). It also includes the use of Council staff time in any capacity during their usual working hours. 

This applies to sitting members, Council staff and other candidates, in any context that could be considered as campaigning for elections. More information, is outlined in the Policy for Communications by Elected Members in a Pre Election Period adopted on 28 May 2025.  

You must record of all donations received and expenses incurred in your election campaign. Every candidate must, by law, complete an Electoral donations and Expenses Return declaring all donations and expenses and forwarded to the electoral office by 11 December 2025. The information here is of a general nature. You should also refer to Part 5 Electoral Donations and Expenses of the Local Electoral Act 2001.

A Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses form must be supplied to the electoral officer within 55 days after the official declaration (by 11 December 2025). This can be supplied to the electoral officer within 76 days after the official declaration if you are overseas when successful candidates are declared elected.

The Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses must set out:

• the details of every electoral donation received by the candidate that, either on its own or when aggregated with all other
• donations made by or on behalf of the same donor for use in the same campaign, exceeds $1,500, in sum or value
• the details in respect of every anonymous electoral donation received by the candidate that exceeds $1,500,
• details of the candidate’s electoral expenses.

The details of every electoral donation are:

• the name of the donor
• the address of the donor
• the amount of the donation or in the case of aggregated donations, the total amount of the donations
• the date the donation was received or, in the case of aggregated donations, the date that each donation was received.

The details of every anonymous donation exceeding $1,500, are:

• the date the donation was received
• the amount of the donation
• the amount paid to the electoral officer and the date the payment was made.

With respect to electoral expenses, the return must set out separately the name and description of every person or body of persons to whom or which any sum was paid, and the reason for which it was paid. Sums more than $200 (GST inclusive) must be vouched by an invoice or a bill and a receipt.

You should retain all invoices and receipts relating to electoral expenses should these be required in the event of a challenge. They should not be submitted with the return.

Once the Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses forms have been received by the electoral officer they become public documents and are to be kept for a public inspection period of seven years. During this period, the returns:

• are placed on Council’s website
• can be inspected by any person
• copies can be made available if requested.

This is a requirement under section 112F of the Local Electoral Act 2001

Yes. 

Social media can be a useful tool for candidates for campaigning purposes and electioneering. You should be aware of the Council's policy for communication in a pre election period which outlines the principles behind the use of Council's social media channels.

Council’s social media channels are council resources and must always remain politically neutral.

Council will promote elections and the importance of voting but will not associate these posts with any candidates.

Council social media accounts will not follow any candidates. This may result in your account being unfollowed.

Council’s social media accounts are not permitted to be used as a communications channel by anyone (candidates or members of the public) for promotion, electioneering or campaigning. This also applies to all social media accounts owned by council-controlled organisations.

Candidates should not post on council’s social media channels, nor should they comment on, share or otherwise use council social media channels for electioneering. You may not rate, review, check-in or tag the council’s social media channels in your own posts or comments.

Council’s social media accounts are constantly monitored, and any campaign related or electioneering content, (including posts related to nominations and candidacy), will be removed immediately.

All election advertising, using any media, including on social media, must show an authorisation statement.

No. Current Elected Members cannot use Council resources for a campaign for others, or themselves. 

Download Election Expense Forms here for

• Mayor election expense form - for candidates standing for Mayor of Kawerau District Council
• District Wide or 'At Large' Councillor 
• Kawerau General Ward Councillor
• Kawerau Māori Ward Councillor