2025 Elections

Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council, Gore District Council and Environment Southland are coming together in collaboration for Vote Murihiku 2025.  We want to see as many people as possible across Murihiku Southland taking part in the elections this year to ensure your voice is heard around our Council tables.

Follow our Facebook page for updates on Vote Murihiku 2025 and the local government elections.

The next Council Elections will be on 11 October 2025 

The next elections for Council and the Invercargill Licensing Trust will take place on 11 October 2025. We will be regularly updating this page with information as we hit key milestones and when key documents and events are ready. 

 

Key dates

11 JUN Candidate briefing

1 JUL Pre-election period

4 JUL Nominations open

1 AUG Nominations close

9 SEPT Voting opens

11 OCT Election day

 

What can you stand for?

 You will be able to stand for the following: 

 Council: 

• 1 Mayor 
• 12 Councillors – voted at large across the City district 
• 5 Members of the Bluff Community Board – voted for by those living in Bluff  

Southland Regional Council (Environment Southland): 

• 6 Councillors to represent the Invercargill – Rakiura Constituency  

 Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT) 

• 6 Board Members (where you live in the ILT district) 

 

 Candidate Briefing Session 

There will be a Briefing Session held for all people interested in being a candidate on 11 June 2025. 

 This session will cover information on what you need to do to be a candidate and includes practical advice on how to get your nomination form in, what documents you need, where to go to do this and information on things like where you can place your campaign signs. 

 Venue and Time TBC but will be evening. We are also likely to live stream it. 

 

Voting System for 2025

Council resolved on 18 July 2023 to retain First Past the Post (FPP) as its electoral system for the 2025 triennial elections. 

 

Get Enrolled so you can take part now! 

The Electoral Commission looks after enrolments for voting. You will all soon receive a letter form the Commission to confirm your enrolment. If you are uncertain if you are enrolled, have recently turned 18, become a Resident or moved, you may want to check if you are enrolled! 

• Check your enrolment details [vote.nz] 
• Enrol online to vote [vote.nz] 

 You can also ring the Electoral Commission, anytime, on 0800 36 76 56, or you can contact us, and we can post out a form for you to fill in and return to the Electoral Commission. 

We also have papers forms at Te Hīnaki- Civic Building and the Bluff Service Centre if that works. 

If you need help contacting the Electoral Commission get in touch with our Elections team. 

 

Ratepayer Electors Enrolments

 Do you own property in another Council district? If so you might be eligible to become a Ratepayer Elector? 

 For more information and Enrolment information please follow this link to our page: https://icc.govt.nz/elections/ratepayer-electoral-enrolments/ 

 

Electoral Boundaries

With four Councils, Community Boards and Licensing Trusts, trying to work out what you can vote in for the Council elections can be confusing. 

Use our interactive map to learn what you will be voting for in these upcoming elections. 

Electoral Boundaries Map

This works for any address in Southland so if you live Invercargill and own property in Riverton you can see what you can vote in both Invercargill and Riverton, and if you live in Winton and own property in Gore you can see what you can vote for in Winton and Gore. 

 These maps also have the boundaries for the Licensing Trust districts. 

 

Electoral Officer Contact Details

The Electoral Officer is responsible for the conduct of the election.