Information for people interested in Council elections, including the 2024 Lyttelton Community Subdivision by-election for the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board.

The Council does not run general elections, these are run by the Electoral Commission. For information about the 2023 General Election see www.vote.nz(external link) or phone 0800 36 76 53 or email enquiries@elections.govt.nz(external link)

The Council is responsible for regulating election signage in Christchurch 2023. Read the General Election signage guidelines [PDF, 26 KB].

2024 Lyttelton Subdivision Community Board by-election

Wards and community board areas

From the 2022 elections, Christchurch and Banks Peninsula have 16 wards and six community boards, each representing a different area around the city.

Our 2021 representation review meant that Christchurch's ward and community board boundaries changed for the 2022 election. See a map showing those changes(external link).

2022 local elections candidate resources

There's a lot of useful information from Local Government New Zealand(external link), including tips and advice on campaigning. Designed for those launching a campaign for the first time as well as those who are running again, LGNZ's Make a Stand(external link) sessions cover three great topics with expert presenters to help you to craft a compelling campaign. Sessions are free and will be hosted on Zoom. 

If you have any questions, please contact Electoral Officer Jo Daly on 03 941 8581 or at elections@ccc.govt.nz.

Campaigning

Before you start your campaign, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

All candidates should refer to the candidate information booklet [PDF, 10 MB] or the candidate information sheet [PDF, 50 KB]. There are some important rules around how you use social media. Read our social media guidelines for candidates(external link).

All election advertising, using any medium including social media, must identify the person under whose authority they have been produced, as per section 113 of the Local Electoral Act 2001. This requires an authorisation statement, clearly visible on any and all campaigning material setting out:

  • The true name of the person, persons or organisation at whose direction the signage has been erected.
  • The contact details for that person/organisation:
    • a residential or business address; or
    • an email address; or
    • a post office box number; or
    • a phone number; or
    • a link to an internet site (if the page contains one or more of the above). A change to legislation in July 2022 has meant that there is a change to the contact details that can be included.

Election campaigning should cease by the close of voting, noon on Saturday 8 October 2022.

Election signage is permitted within certain rules from nine weeks from the start of an election or by-election. These rules are set by the Christchurch District Plan, Council and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Bylaws. Please read the 2022 Elections signage information fact sheet [PDF, 61 KB] to ensure you are complying with the rules.

In 2022, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency also provided a letter to candidates [PDF, 23 KB].

Council resources are not permitted to be used for campaigning purposes.

Electoral expenses and donations

All candidates in elections and by-elections held under the provisions of the Local Electoral Act 2001 must file a return of electoral donations and expenses.

A candidate is required to keep a record of all electoral donations and campaign election expense and must furnish a return to the electoral officer within 55 days of the election result being declared, no later than Friday 9 December 2022.

Your return must be submitted on the Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses form [PDF, 77 KB].

If a candidate is outside New Zealand on the election result day, they have 76 days after the election result day to furnish their return.

Once the electoral expenses and electoral donations return forms and supporting documents are sent back to the council they become public documents and will be placed on the Council’s website and can be inspected by any person for the next seven years.

Any queries regarding these returns should be directed to the Electoral Officer Jo Daly on 03 941 8581 or jo.daly@ccc.govt.nz

Campaign expenditure

Candidates have campaign expenditure limits and are required to file a return to the electoral officer after the election.

Section 111 of the Local Electoral Act 2001(external link) details the maximum amount of electoral expenses. The Candidate Information Booklet includes a summary from section 111(1) of the Act of maximum amount of electoral expenses (inclusive of goods and services tax) that a candidate must not exceed.

Campaign expenditure is all expenses relating to the campaign from the period three months before election day, plus any apportioned costs of any election campaigning that started before the three-month period. Refer to section 112 of the Local Electoral Act 2001(external link).

If a candidate is standing for more than one position (for example mayor and councillor), then the higher limit applies (not both combined).

The relevant sections of the Local Electoral Act 2001 on election expenses are available in the Candidate Information Booklet. Please note:

  1. Candidates are required to keep evidence of any election expenses for amounts exceeding $200.
  2. All candidates must submit a return of election expenses and donations form even if no expenses have been incurred or donations received.
  3. The $200 nomination deposit fee is not an electoral expense.

Electoral donations

Candidates should note the following with regard to electoral donations:

An electoral donation is a donation of money, goods or services that is made for use in a candidate’s electoral campaign (section 103A of the Local Electoral Act). Electoral donations and contributions to donations of more than $1500, including GST, are required to be declared in the candidate’s return of electoral expenses and donations. A series of donations made by one person that adds up to more than $1500 must also be declared.

An electoral donation includes:

  • Where a candidate is provided with goods or services free of charge that have a reasonable market value greater than $300.
  • Where a candidate is provided with discounted goods or services and the reasonable market value of the goods or services is greater than $300, the difference between the contract or agreed price and the reasonable market value of those goods and services is a donation.
  • Where a candidate sells over-valued goods or services, the difference between the price paid and the reasonable market value is a donation, for example a funding raising auction or dinner.

Donations to candidates can be made up of pooled funds contributed by more than one person (referred to as donations funded from contributions). These types of donations include, for example, campaign donations made through a trust, or where there is a fundraising collection for a candidate’s campaign.

Candidates must disclose, in their return of electoral donations and expenses, whether a donation is funded from contributions and the name and address of any individuals contributing amounts in excess of $1500. Anonymous donations made through contributions are limited to a maximum of $1500 per donation.

Candidates who receive an anonymous donation of more than $1500 are required to pay the amount over $1500 to the electoral officer (for payment into the Council’s general account).

The electoral officer’s role is to bring these matters to the attention of all candidates.

Executive team meetings with Mayoral candidates

Notes from the Christchurch City Council Executive Leadership Team's meetings with Mayoral candidates.