2013 local election posters in western Christchurch
The 2013 New Zealand local elections were triennial elections to elect local government officials and District Health Board members, and the membership of other local bodies such as Licensing Trusts. All elections were conducted by postal ballot, with election day being Saturday 12 October 2013.[1]
Electoral systems
The local elections were held using postal ballot. Most city and district councils and all but one regional council used the first-past-the-post (FPP) voting system, with the exception of the following six city and district councils that used the single transferable vote (STV) voting system:[2]
Under section 10 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, a "general election of members of every local authority or community board must be held on the second Saturday in October in every third year" from the date the Act came into effect in 2001, meaning 12 October 2013.[3]
Householders who did not receive their enrolment pack need to take steps to enrol
16 July 2013
Last day for enrolment for postal voting
20 September 2013
Postal voting commences
11 October 2013
Last day to enrol to vote
12 October 2013
Election Day – Voting closes at 12 noon
Political commentator Vernon Small thought that the government would likely try and combine the local elections with the asset sales referendum,[5] but this did not happen. Instead, the referendum was held via postal ballot between 22 November and 13 December.[6]
