Your council, your choice
The council is the governing body for Waikato Regional Council. The council is elected every three years by eligible voters who live in the areas that the councillors represent.
There are 14 councillors, made up of 12 general seats and two Māori seats. Electors that are on the general roll for national election cast a vote for candidates standing in general seats. Electors that are on the Māori roll vote for candidates standing in the Māori seats.
The chair and deputy chair are appointed by the council when it takes office. Councillors then meet monthly (or as required) in committees and subcommittees to look closely at the issues and make decisions on or recommendations to the council.
Electoral system (FFP or STV)
The Local Electoral Act offers the choice between two electoral systems for local authority elections: first past the post (FPP) and the single transferable vote (STV).
Councils have the option to decide whether to stay with their current electoral system (either FPP or STV), or whether to change to the alternative system for the next triennial election. This decision must be made two years prior to the next election.
Public notice: Notice of council resolution on electoral system and right to demand a poll
Published: 14 September 2026
If the Waikato Regional Council (the Council) is required to hold an election in 2028, notice is given under section 28 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, that the Council resolved (WRC23/82) on 31 August 2023 to retain the first past the post (FPP) electoral system for its elections.
Electors have the right to demand a poll on the electoral system
Under sections 29 and 30 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, electors of the Waikato Regional Council may demand that a poll be held on a proposal that a specified electoral system be used for the Council’s elections.
A valid demand for a poll must be:
- made in writing;
- signed by at least 5% being a minimum of 16,823 electors of the number of electors who were enrolled as eligible to vote at the previous general election of the Waikato Regional Council;
- state, against each elector’s signature, the elector’s name and address for which they are qualified as an elector of the Waikato Regional Council.
For the outcome of the poll to apply to the 2028 triennial general election, a valid demand must be received at the principal office of the Waikato Regional Council no later than Friday, 11 December 2026. Hand-delivered demands must be received before the principal office closes at 5.00 pm that day.
Delivery of demands
Valid demands may be delivered by hand to the Waikato Regional Council principal office at 160 Ward Street, Hamilton or posted to Private Bag 3038, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240.
Future legislative framework
Subject to any future legislative changes affecting the conduct of regional council elections, Waikato Regional Council will continue to use the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system unless that electoral system is changed in accordance with the Local Electoral Act 2001.
Dated at Hamilton, 14 September 2026.
CDA McLay
Chief Executive
Election results and candidate expense returns
You can view information on election results and electoral expenses and donations, below. Other election information, including results from previous elections, can be provided to you on request. Just contact us, and ask.
(Note, there was a by-election in 2017.)
-
2025 Election results
499 KB
-
2025 Elections Return of electoral expenses and donations
24 MB
-
2022 Election results
115 KB
-
2022 Return of electoral expenses and donations
11 MB
-
2019 Election results
149 KB
-
2019 Candidate election expenses returns
1.9 MB
-
2019 Return of electoral expenses and donations
103 KB
-
2017 Candidate election expenses returns
38 KB
-
2017 Return of electoral expenses and donations
5.2 MB
-
2016 Candidate election expenses returns
60 KB
-
2016 Return of electoral expenses and donations
2 MB