How do you decide who to vote for?
By someone who also stared at the list of 45 candidates and immediately needed a lie down.
It’s official: nominations for the 2025 Local Elections have closed, and there are 45 people putting their hand up to represent our district — from Eketāhuna to Norsewood and everywhere in between.
As voters, we’ll be voting for people to represent us at the decision-making tables for Tararua District Council, Horizons Regional Council, Masterton Community Trust and Greater Wellington Regional Council.
There’s a good chance your letterbox (and Facebook feed) is about to get a whole lot more civic. So, now the big question…
How do you actually choose who to vote for?
Do you go by the one whose name you recognise from that one time they said "hello" to you?
The one who makes the best memes?
The one with the nicest-looking headshot?
We get it — it’s a lot. Especially when every candidate swears they’re passionate, community-focused and a good listener.
But here’s the trick: you don’t need to be an expert in politics or policy. You just need to be curious enough to poke around a bit.
Here’s where to start:
Candidate Profiles are Live
Head to www.tararuadc.govt.nz/elections for a full list of names and profile statements. This is your first stop to see who’s running, what they stand for, and whether their priorities line up with yours.
Video Statements Incoming
All candidates have the option to record video profiles — keep an eye out for these in the coming weeks. Hearing someone speak is a great way to get a feel for who they are (and whether you could survive a three-year term with them making decisions about council spending).
Meet the Candidates Events
Community groups across Tararua are hosting public Q&A sessions, forums and meet-and-greets. These are golden opportunities to hear from your local contenders and ask questions that matter to you. Want to know what they’d do about stormwater, streetlights, skateparks or the state of our roads? Ask. Just turn up, listen, and then trust your gut.
Please note, depending on the format being used some event organisers may seek questions in advance from the community, and some may allow questions from attendees on the night.
Hosting a forum? Let us know! If you're organising a local event for candidates, flick a quick email to elections@tararuadc.govt.nz or call 06 374 4080 or 06 376 0110 so we can help spread the word.
Bottom line?
Voting is one of the few things in life that's free, powerful, and won’t be postponed because of lambing season.
Be curious, get informed, and make sure you’re ready to make your selection when voting packs land in mailboxes between 9 and 22 September.
Published on Monday, 25 August 2025.