Elections
The Rotorua District Council comprises a Mayor and 12 Councillors elected at three-year intervals. Voters elect the Mayor at large, while Councillors are elected under a Ward system.
Candidates for Council do not have to be residents of Rotorua to stand for election. They must be a parliamentary elector and New Zealand citizen. Candidates therefore do not have to live in the District, Ward or Community they wish to stand for.
Elected members come from all walks of life. In a democracy, a Council should have a diverse range of qualifications and experience.
Candidates can stand for either a territorial authority or a regional council. The law prevents anyone from standing for both a territorial authority and a regional council. Candidates can stand for Mayor for Council and Community Board but cannot stand for election in more than one Ward.