Most candidates in this year’s local elections have participated in video interviews, which are now available to view on Council’s website.

After introducing themselves, the candidates answered three questions:

• in your view, what’s the biggest challenge facing Marlborough?
• tell us why you think you’re right for the role
• briefly outline your top priority for the next three years.

The videos sit alongside each candidate’s photograph and profile statement on the website.

Go to: www.marlborough.govt.nz/your-council/elections/2025-council-election and click on Candidate Profiles.

Electoral Officer Dean Heiford said the videos were a great innovation and give voters a good insight into who the candidates are and what they stand for.

“I encourage Marlborough voters to take a look at our website, read the candidate biographies and watch the videos.”

“I’m also pleased we are providing voting bins across the district - this is another innovation for our elections this year.”

“Please spread the word and encourage friends and family members to ensure they are registered and ready to vote. Voting papers are delivered from next Tuesday 9 September.”     

“You can vote as soon as you receive your papers by either posting them in any NZ Post or DX Mail post box or dropping them into an orange voting bin.”

The bins will be available in 15 locations around Marlborough, listed below.

In the Blenheim ward there are 16 candidate nominations for seven seats; in the Marlborough Sounds ward there are six for three seats.

Voters in the Wairau-Awatere Ward will only be voting for mayor - for which there are three candidates - and whether to retain the Marlborough Māori Ward in a referendum.

Only three nominations were received for the Wairau-Awatere Ward, so sitting councillors Scott Adams, Sally Arbuckle and Gerald Hope were elected unopposed. Likewise, in the Marlborough Māori Ward, Allanah Burgess was the only nomination so was elected unopposed.

If you’re on the electoral roll, you can vote. You can enrol if you’re 18 or older, a NZ citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in NZ for more than one year continuously at some time in your life. You can enrol up until the close of elections.

Go to https://vote.nz/ and follow the links to enrol or update online. Or you can call and ask for help on 0800 36 76 56.

Orange voting bin locations are:

• Blenheim Woolworths 51 Arthur Street
• Redwoodtown Woolworths corner Weld Street and Alabama Road
• Springlands Woolworths 133 Middle Renwick Road
• Four Square Havelock 68 Main Road
• Four Square Picton 49 High Street
• Four Square Spring Creek 2226 SH1
• FreshChoice Picton 1/100 High Street
• FreshChoice Renwick 78 High Street
• Marlborough Airport 1 Tancred Crescent, Woodbourne
• Marlborough District Council 15 Seymour Street, Blenheim
• Marlborough Library Te Kahu o Waipuna 15 High Street, Blenheim
• Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000, 14 Kinross Street, Blenheim
• New World Supermarket Blenheim, 4 Freswick Street
• Pak ‘n Save 1 Westwood Avenue, Springlands
• Picton Library and Service Centre Waitohi Whare Matauranga, 2 Dublin Street

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