Final Voting Numbers Confirm the System Needs an Overhaul, Says LGNZ

New Zealand’s 2025 local election results are now final. Turnout rose slightly compared to 2022. Local Government New Zealand, or LGNZ, says the pattern of voting has changed. Therefore, the voting system should change, too.
Final nationwide turnout reached 39.42 percent. That equals 1,365,215 votes from 3,463,278 eligible voters.

Shift in Voter Behavior

LGNZ interim chief executive Scott Necklen says many people now vote close to the deadline. In the ten days before election day, activity lifted. Then voting eased off. Finally, on election day, it spiked again. About 14.1 percent of all ballots went into the orange bins on the day.
Councils placed more than 1,500 orange bins in communities. As a result, voters had simple and nearby drop-off points.

Calls for Systemic Change

LGNZ argues that postal voting no longer meets public needs. Instead, it wants in-person polling booths for local elections. The model would match parliamentary elections.
Necklen points to the Electoral Reform Working Group’s recommendations. The group supports a two-week in-person voting window. That change would make the process more consistent, clearer, and easier to use.
LGNZ has met ministers to discuss the plan. The aim is to have the Electoral Commission run local elections by 2028. The Prime Minister has said he is open to this.

Why Change Matters

LGNZ says better access can lift turnout and trust. Local councils decide on roads, rubbish, water quality, flood resilience, facilities, and events. Hence, stronger participation supports better local decisions.
Even with the small rise in 2025, turnout stayed under 40 percent. That is well below general election levels. Therefore, reform remains a priority.

Key Statistics from the 2025 Local Elections

Final nationwide turnout: 39.42 percent
Total votes received: 1,365,215
Eligible voters: 3,463,278
Special votes: 34,793
Votes cast on election day: 185,078, or 14.1 percent of all votes
Highest turnout:
• Chatham Islands 68.34 percent
• Kaikōura 60.85 percent
• Mackenzie District 60.43 percent
Lowest turnout:
• Auckland City 29.33 percent
• Hamilton City 32.97 percent
• Waikato District 35.03 percent
Smaller districts again outperformed large cities. This pattern matches previous local elections.

The Road Ahead

The Electoral Reform Working Group made 20 recommendations in July 2025. Public consultation is expected in early 2026. If the Cabinet agrees, some councils could pilot in-person voting before the 2028 rollout.
Analysts say the changes could reduce confusion for first-time and younger voters. In addition, consistent national management may improve trust.

References

1. Local Government New Zealand. Press Release: Final Voting Numbers Are Out: The System Needs To Change. 19 October 2025.
2. Electoral Reform Working Group. Final Position Paper on Local Election Turnout. July 2025.
3. Ministry of Justice. Electoral Commission operations overview. 2025.
4. Scoop Media. LGNZ press release archive. 19 October 2025.

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