Voting in our District
Declaration of Result
The final result of the 2025 triennial election, following the counting of special votes, has pushed the Gore District's voter turnout to a record 54.82%.
The following candidates have been declared elected (in order of number of votes received):
Gore District Council
- Mayoralty: Ben Bell
- Council at large: Torrone Smith, Neville Phillips, Joe Stringer.
- Gore Ward: Mel Cupit, Paul McPhail, Andy Fraser, Robert (Caveman) McKenzie, Donna Bruce.
Mataura Licensing Trust
- Ward 2 Gore: Jimmy Allison, Paul Henry, Craig Marshall.
Full final results are available by clicking on this link.
The easiest and most powerful way to get involved in local government is to vote in your local body elections. This is your opportunity to choose who to represent you and make decisions that affect your daily life.
The more people who vote, the better the chances that those elected genuinely reflect the needs and values of your community.
How Do I Vote
Voting packs will be sent out in the mail to everyone who is enrolled from Tuesday 9 September and should be received by Monday 22 September. Votes can be cast as soon as the papers have been received.
Voting closes at 12 noon, Saturday 11 October.
After you've received and filled out your voting paper you can return it in the post or drop it into any of the orange wheelie bins we will have around Gore and Mataura at:
Gore New World | Woolworths |
North Gore Diary | BP2Go |
Gore or Mataura libraries | Mataura 4 Square |
Council main office | Gore Multisports Complex |
Special Votes
If you need to cast a special vote (maybe you are on the electoral roll but don’t receive your voting papers, or your papers get damaged) pop into the Council’s main office, on Bowler Avenue, between 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday.
For anyone who can’t make it during usual business hours, our electoral team will be at the following locations to help make voting in this year’s local body elections seamless:
Gore Library
- Wednesday 24 September - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
- Saturday 27 September - 10:00am to 1:00pm
- Wednesday 1 October - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
- Wednesday 8 October - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Mataura Service Centre/Library
- Wednesday 24 September - 10:00am to 12 noon
- Tuesday 7 October - 10:00am to 12 noon
If you’re unsure whether you're enrolled, especially if you've recently turned 18, become a New Zealand resident, or changed address, it’s a good idea to check your enrolment to ensure you're ready to vote.
You can contact the Electoral Commission anytime by calling 0800 36 76 56. Alternatively, contact us, and we can send you a form to complete and return to the Commission.
If you need assistance reaching the Electoral Commission, our Elections team is here to help.
| Electoral Officer Anthony Morton | Deputy Electoral Officer Frances Shepherd |
| Email: [email protected] Phone: 0800 666 048 | Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 209 0330 |
When will I get my voting papers?
Papers will start being delivered from Tuesday 9 September until Monday 22 September.
I’m on the electoral roll but haven’t received my voting papers – what do I do?
Wait until the 22 September just to make sure that they are not late being delivered. If you do not receive them, you will need to cast a special vote.
I’m going on holiday overseas and don’t get home until after voting closes – can I still vote?
Yes, if you are heading overseas from the 9 September and haven’t received your voting papers before you go, you will need to come into the office and cast a special vote.
I received my voting papers, but the dog ate them – can I still cast my vote?
Yes, if you have lost your voting papers or the papers get damaged you can still vote, but you will need to come into the office and cast a special vote.
I live in Mataura and/or the rural ward where our councillors and board members have won their seats without an election. Do I still need my voting papers?
Yes, you will receive your voting papers. Everyone in the Gore District who is enrolled to vote will get to vote for the mayoralty and for district-wide councillors.
Electoral Boundaries
With four Councils, Community Boards and Licensing Trusts, trying to work out what you can vote for in the Council elections can be confusing.
Ratepayer elector enrolments
Wherever you pay rates, you can vote. If you own property in the Gore District but live elsewhere, you may be able to enrol as a non-resident ratepayer elector and vote in both areas.
Ratepayer electors may also be eligible to enrol as a non-resident ratepayer in a council district if both of these apply:
- You're on the district valuation roll and pay rates in the council district
- the address where you're registered as a parliamentary elector is outside that council district.
Your eligibility to enrol or be nominated as a ratepayer elector may also depend on your individual circumstances, determined by the Local Electoral Act 2001.
