Kaikōura Leads The Way As Canterbury Votes Early

Tuesday, 30 September 2025, 3:43 pm
Article: David Hill - Local Democracy Reporter

Kaikōura is ‘‘punching above its weight’’, with a high voter return ahead of the October 11 local government election. 

As of Friday, [September 26] almost 18 percent of votes had been returned, well ahead on the same stage three years ago when just over 5 percent of votes had been returned. 

In the 2022 local government election, Kaikōura overcame its slow start to achieve the highest percentage turnout in the country - 62.02%. 

‘‘The mighty Kaikōura. We are small, but we punch above our weight,’’ Kaikōura District Council chief executive Will Doughty said. 

There had been concerns about voter apathy nationally in the lead up to the election. 

But with a mayoral contest and a strong field of 16 candidates for seven positions on the council, Mr Doughty said he is hoping for a similar result to 2022 with voter returns. 

Voter returns are tracking well right across North Canterbury, with Hurunui sitting a tick over 14% on Friday. 

That compared with 5.3% at the same stage three years ago. The Hurunui result is noteworthy given there is no mayoral contest. 

In Waimakariri, voter returns were sitting at 13.7% on Friday, September 26, well ahead of the same stage three years ago of 6.3%. 

And the Christchurch City Council election voter returns were sitting at 15.9%, compared to 6.4% three years ago. 

Final voter returns in 2022 were 43.4% in Hurunui, 44.6% in Waimakariri and 43.3% in Christchurch. 

Voting closes at 12noon on Saturday, October 11. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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