Invercargill City Council Chief Executive releases pre-election report
Time is rapidly counting down until nominations for this year’s local government elections officially open, and Invercargill City Council has released its 2025 Pre-Election Report.
Invercargill City Council Chief Executive Michael Day said the report was a chance to highlight the priorities, challenges, and opportunities facing the organisation in the future.
“Our pre-election report is essentially Invercargill City Council’s opportunity to lay out its ‘state of the nation’ as it were – both for the community we serve, and for potential candidates who are considering standing in this year’s elections,” he said.
In New Zealand, all Chief Executives were required to release a Pre-Election report before nominations open for local government elections, held every three years, under the Local Government Act 2002, he said.
Nominations for this year’s local government elections open on 4 July.
“The information within this year’s pre-election report indicates that while Invercargill City Council is in a relatively enviable position, with sustainable population growth, and consistent performance across the myriad services we provide in our community,” Day said.
“However, like other communities, plenty of challenges lie ahead, including rising levels of required infrastructure renewals and investment in water, sewerage and stormwater networks, planning for improved resilience of the city and the need to find deliver significant efficiencies across Council operations. Council is also operating in an environment of significant regulatory change occurring nationwide. Releasing the pre-election report gives candidates in the upcoming elections – and the people voting for them – the chance to establish a clear picture of what matters most for Invercargill’s future.”
As well as information about Council, its goals, key projects, and finances, the pre-election report also offered an insight into what it was like to be an elected member, as well as how to take part in the voting process, Day said.
“We really encourage everybody in our community to take the time to not only read the pre-election report, but make their voices heard by exercising their democratic right to vote. The decisions made at Council level have a direct effect on our day-to-day lives, and voting is your opportunity to ensure you have your say in our city,” Day said.
Local government election nominations will close on 1 August, with postal voting set to begin on 9 September. Election Day will be held on 11 October.
