Elections Frequently Asked Questions

 If you are on the general roll you can vote for the candidates in your general ward and the Mayor. 

If you are on the Māori roll, you can vote for the candidates in the Māori ward and the Mayor.  

No. All councillors, regardless of the area they are elected to represent, make the same declaration to act in the best interests of the whole of Napier. A resident can ask any councillor for help and is not limited to their local ward councillors. 

You can vote for the two councillors in Te Whanga Māori ward and the Mayor.   

Choosing between the Māori roll and the general roll is a personal choice and you need to decide which roll best represents yours views and interests. If you are on the Māori roll and wish to switch rolls to vote for candidates in a general ward, then you must do this by Friday 11 July. 

No. To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be: 

• A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony); and 
• Enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere in New Zealand); and 
• Nominated by two electors whose names appear on the electoral roll within the ward a candidate is standing for. For Te Whanga Māori ward, this means, the nominators must live in Napier and be on the Māori roll?  
• Candidates in Māori wards do not need to be of Māori descent, but they do need to be on the Parliamentary electoral roll. 

Candidates cannot stand for both a General ward and a Māori ward at the same time. 

Read more information about Māori wards or the Māori ward poll here.