Stand | E tū

Our Pre-election Report provides information for voters at the next local body elections and for those considering standing at the election as potential candidates.

Protocols for current elected members [pdf, 227KB]

These provide guidance to help current elected members in balancing their roles as an elected member and as a candidate seeking re-election.

The Electoral Officer and Deputy Electoral Officer have held two workshops with current elected members. These were open workshops so all candidates had access to the same information. Note: the information provided in this session was current at the time of presentation, but may have changed since.

Council Workshop 20 February 2025

Council Workshop 10 July 2025

The Remuneration Authority sets a total amount that must be paid in remuneration to Councillors in each individual council.

Each council needs to decide how it wants to allocate its pool according to its own priorities and circumstances. The pool for distribution following the 2025 local elections will be: $779,626.

Councillors must be paid at least the minimum amount (as detailed below), and must take a salary. Council must also allocate the entire remuneration pool.

The Remuneration Authority has also determined that the Mayor's salary will be $170,195 following the 2025 local election, and that the minimum amount a Councillor can be paid will be $59,971.

Roles to which additional remuneration can be provided for include Deputy Mayor, committee chair and also other roles representing the Council on outside groups.

In addition to a salary, the Mayor is currently allocated a vehicle to carry out official duties. Some salary adjustments is required for use of that vehicle for private use.

Once your nomination is in, the next stage of the election is campaigning.

You can use social media, advertise in newspapers or on billboards, hold meetings with your community to spread the word about your candidacy and attend meet the candidate events.

You should find out what is important to your local community and learn about Porirua’s local government structure and the role of mayor and councillors.

Getting votes

One of the main reasons people do not vote in local election is that they do not know enough about the candidates and their views. To run a successful campaign, you need to let your community know the key issues you support.

Tips for connecting with people:

• use social media channels like Facebook or Instagram for wider reach
• door-knock, attend public meetings and talk to the public in shopping malls or at weekend markets
• look for interview opportunities on the radio, in local newspapers or in magazines
• advertise your views in newspapers or on billboards.

Signs on trailers are only permitted at the designated signs locations or on private land in traffic safety areas, the same as static signs essentially.

While not specific to election signs, this is covered under the Signs Bylaw. The Bylaw’s definition of a sign includes those displayed on parked vehicles and trailers.

Clause 4.1 of the Signs Bylaw 2020 states:

"Sign and Signage means an advertisement, message or notice conveyed using any visual medium, which advertises a product, business, service, or event or acts to inform or warn any person, and includes: murals, banners, flags, posters, balloons, blimps, sandwich boards, projections of lights or electronic display boards, placards, hoardings or other similar devices (including parked vehicles or trailers where such vehicle or trailer is parked specifically for the purpose of advertising). "

The total combined value of all tenders and contracts under $100k for the most recent full financial year.

Purchases for goods and services are made by a number of officers across Council.

For procurements over $100k there is a process for approval through the Procurement Committee and a central record of these procurements is maintained for reporting.

For procurements under $100k we don’t capture the information for all tenders or contracts under $100k.

It would not be meaningful to report on approved purchase orders because often there are multiple purchase orders per contract, and also purchase orders may apply to multiple financial years.

We can report on supplier spend. In the 2024/25 financial year Council spent:

• $13.4m with 1,500 suppliers where the spend for each supplier was between $0 and $100k
• $64.7m with 107 suppliers where the spend for each supplier was greater than $100k (NB this excludes WWL and GWRC for bulk water).

The process for approving and awarding these contracts, including how value for money is ensured.

Council’s Procurement Policy details requirements and responsibilities for undertaking procurements.
For procurements between $20k and $100k, the purchasing approach is to seek 2-3 quotes or direct appoint a supplier if there is good reason. The procurement approach, the recommended supplier and reasons are documented and approved under delegated financial authority. Reasons include price as well as factors such as confirmed availability, reliable contractor, local provider, good health & safety processes etc. From a small sample of these supplier recommendations half have 2-3 quotes and half are direct appointments.

For procurements under $20k, the purchasing approaches include using Pcard, ordering from an established contract/supplier, direct appointment or seeking 2-3 quotes. The options for these lower value procurements recognises that the time and cost of a competitive process often outweighs the benefits.

For all procurements, irrespective of value, the contract, purchase order or Pcard transaction is approved by an officer under delegated financial authority.

How this process supports council priorities and ensures local businesses have a fair opportunity to secure this work.

All Council officers are required to comply with the Procurement Policy in assessing value for money, including achieving broader outcomes. One of the broader outcomes is supporting local businesses, whether based in Porirua, with an established facility from which the supplier operates from in Porirua or through sub-contractors. A procurement training course is offered quarterly to Council staff covering policy compliance and broader outcomes.

Cross council teams’ network with Amotai and Ngāti Toa to identify opportunities for local, Māori and Pacifica businesses.

Council is about to go to market with a procurement opportunity limited to Porirua based businesses. This tender is expected to be up on GETs by the end of the week.

The total value of competitive tenders for the Jan-Dec 2024 calendar year has been corrected (in red font) in the table below.
We have improved the way we summarise this information to ensure this error does not reoccur.
The following table and graph provide a summary of contracts over $100,000 in the six months to 30 June 2025 compared to the previous six months, and the previous calendar year.

Question: I am concerned that 60 households have had a significant rates increase in this recent billing period, with no explanation or prior communication to those affected. This seems to have come as a complete surprise to residents, who only became aware of the change when they received their invoice.
Can you please explain:

• When these changes were made and when you became aware of them
• What communication, if any, was sent before invoices went out
• What checks were done to make sure the data was correct and current
• How people can query or appeal these changes, and if that process is being clearly shared with those affected
• This is a significant change with a big financial impact for whānau. Applying it without warning falls short of reasonable expectations and further risks damaging public trust in the Council.

Answer:

When these changes were made and when you became aware of them?

• These changes were made in June 2025 based on a listing from QV showing the number of units per property.

What communication, if any, was sent before invoices went out?

• This was quite a late change that we were trying to get through before year end to show the auditors that we had actioned their ‘rating units review’ that was identified during last year’s audit. The ratepayers were not contacted prior to the invoice going out. On the basis of feedback we have received I will have the rates team contact affected property owners before 1 September.

What checks were done to make sure the data was correct and current?

• The updates were based on QV’s data. QV regularly update their records based on building consents and other information notified to them by Council or ratepayers. We do not have the resources to check every property individually. QV are our contractor, and we rely on certain information from them.

How people can query or appeal these changes, and if that process is being clearly shared with those affected?

If ratepayers wish to query or appeal these charges, they can email [email protected]. This is listed on the invoice and assessment notice as the best way to contact us if a ratepayer has questions

The Māori Electoral Roll will be available for viewing on Friday 4 July 2025. Te Whata holds statistics on Māori and associated iwi around Aotearoa New Zealand. However, they do not provide specific data for the Porirua area.

Councillor roles at Porirua are considered part-time. The majority of Council and Committee meetings and workshops are scheduled on Thursday mornings between 8:30am and 12:30pm. Councillors would also need to set aside time to read agendas and attend community events in the evenings or on weekends.

Council cannot give advice on campaigning including the design and printing of signs.

“Meet the candidates” events are run by Porirua’s community groups and organisations not by Council. Council will list events on our website if we receive notification from the community group.

Copies of these can be viewed or downloaded from our website:

• Annual plan
• Annual report
• Long-term plan