Candidate information

Candidate question: A candidate inquired about further details regarding the information in our Annual Report for 2024/25, which notes that funding received from Transport New Zealand was $66,925,000. The candidate asked for a breakdown of what was operational and what was capital funding.

We responded: Of the $66.9M of NZTA grant funding received in the 2023/24 financial year, $0.4M was for the purchase of assets owned by Environment Canterbury. The majority of NZTA funding received was for operational expenditure. Some payments made to operators will have been used for capital expenditure by them.

Each candidate is required to keep a record of all campaign election expenses, and must submit a return with this detail to the Electoral Officer within 55 days of the election result being declared, estimated to be no later than Wednesday 10 December 2025.

This must be done on the Return of Electoral Donations and Expenses form (PDF file, 99.1KB). Completed forms outlining electoral expenses and electoral donations become public documents and must be published on the Council’s website for seven years.

For more information on the types of expenses that need to be included, refer to the 2025 Elections Candidate Handbook (PDF file, 2.8MB).

Note:

1. Candidates are required to keep evidence of any election expenses for amounts exceeding $200, but do not need to provide them with the declaration.
2. All candidates must submit a return of election expenses and donations form even if no expenses have been incurred or donations received.

To stand for election, a candidate must:

• be a New Zealand Citizen and be enrolled on a parliamentary electoral roll within New Zealand
• be nominated by two electors enrolled in the constituency that the candidate is standing in – a candidate cannot nominate themselves
• pay a $200 nomination deposit.

You cannot stand for both a regional council and a local council or community board position in the same region.

Candidate handbook

Our candidate handbook provides information for people considering standing for election.

 Download the 2025 Elections Candidate Handbook (PDF file, 2.8MB)

 request a printed copy by emailing elections@ecan.govt.nz

Pre-election report

The pre-election report outlines key challenges, opportunities, major projects, and financial information to help candidates and voters ahead of the local elections.

Download the 2025 Pre-Election Report (PDF file, 6.23MB)

Candidate information session

A candidate information session was held on Tuesday, 1 July. 

Download the presentations:

• Why this election matters: Dr Stefanie Rixecker, Chief Executive, outlines why this is a pivotal time for regional government. Download presentation (PDF file, 1.56MB)

• Standing for election – the essentials: Anthony Morton, Electoral Officer (Electionz.com), explains the nomination process, along with rules around campaigning and candidate expenses. Download presentation (PDF file, 1.83MB)

• Watch the full presentation

Read the guidelines for using our resources, campaign material, and social media advertising for your election campaign.

Use of Council resources

Candidates are not permitted to use Council resources for campaigning purposes. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Council-owned or controlled property and other resources including the Council logo and branding
• all Council marketing and communication channels (including social media)
• Council-supplied business cards, stationery, computers, email, mobile phones, addresses, photocopiers
• Council venues (other than those available for hire to the general public)
• Council funds
• the people employed by the Council.

This applies to either sitting members or other candidates in any context that could reasonably be construed as campaigning for elections.

Campaign material and advertising

Candidates can start campaigning at any time. Campaigning is at your cost, and you must record and declare any money you spend on your campaign or donations (including donated goods or services) you receive.

All election advertising, including all online platforms and social media posts, must identify the person under whose authority they have been produced. There must be a reasonable expectation that anyone wishing to discuss the advertising can do so with the candidate or their agent from the contact details listed in the authorisation statement.

The authorisation statement must include the person's name and contact details, either:

• residential or business address
• email address, post office box
• phone number, or
• link to a website with the person's contact details.

Note: The use of a council building address is not permitted in the authorisation address. Election offences are set out in the Local Electoral Act 2001. To avoid committing an offence, please ensure you understand what is required of you. You should also check if your city or district council has any rules about the placement of advertising material.

Social media guidelines

Candidates must comply with the following guidelines for social media use and presence related to campaigning:
Things to be aware of:

• Election advertising, using any media, including social media, must identify the person under whose authority they have been produced, as per sections 113-115 of the Local Electoral Act 2001. This means any campaigning material in your profile photo/bio, you must have a statement saying that all content/images including on your social media channel are authorised by you or your agent. You must include a physical address in the authorisation statement.
• The Council’s social media accounts, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Neighbourly, are not permitted to be used as a communications channel by anyone (candidates or members of the public) for promotion, electioneering or campaigning.
• The Council’s social media accounts are constantly monitored, and any campaign-related or electioneering content will be removed immediately.
• If the Council already follows your public social media accounts, please note you will be unfollowed 3 months before the election date. This protocol is in line with the Local Electoral Act 2001.
• Any social media post - positive or negative - made by any individual specifically relating to their own - or someone else’s - nomination, intention to run for Council or an election campaign, will be removed immediately.
• Candidates cannot reply to the Council’s social media posts or share a comment encouraging people to like or follow their own social media accounts or any other electioneering tool. Any posts that do this will be removed immediately.
• Candidates must not link their own social media accounts (if they are used for campaigning purposes) to the Council’s social media accounts.
• Candidates cannot rate, review, check in or tag the Council’s social media channels.
• The Council’s social media accounts will remain neutral. The council will promote elections and the importance of voting but will not associate these posts with any candidates.

If you’re not sure about how regional and local government work in New Zealand, these resources developed by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) are a great way to get started. There is no cost; simply log in as a guest.

Check out these short videos:

Part 1 of 3:
Structure of Local Government

Part 2 of 3:
Roles within a council

Part 3 of 3:
How councils are funded

Online pre-election learning modules

Work through the free 'Stepping into local leadership – the life of an elected member' online learning modules to get a taste of what life is like as a councillor.

 Part one: The role of an elected member

 Part two: The life of an elected member

The Council serves the whole region. If you successfully become a councillor, you will have the opportunity to make a positive difference for people and communities today and into the future.

Effective governance is thinking about the strategic issues and “big picture” rather than the day-to-day running of the business, which is the Chief Executive’s responsibility.

Hear about the role of a regional councillor from our Chief Executive Stefanie Rixecker: Watch video

The three main areas of responsibility for councillors are:

• Relationships – Externally with rūnanga, ministers, members of parliament, other councils and the community. Internally with each other, as well as the chief executive and the executive leadership team. Alongside statutory obligations relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi, Councillors also have a role in maintaining relationships as described in the Tuia Agreement between us and the 10 Papatipu Rūnanga
• Financial responsibility – Oversight of the organisation’s $355 million annual budget, large expenditure decisions, revenue and finance policies.
• Policy, rules and regulations - Including the strategic direction, outcomes, regional plans and strategies, Council policies, as well as influencing national direction.

Understanding Council representation and operations

Learn about how councillors represent the community and how the Council works. You'll find out what the Chair and Chief Executive do, how decisions are made, how meetings run, and how councillors listen to and work with the community.

What it means to represent the community

Effective representation means:

• to speak on behalf of individuals and organisations in your community,
• act in their best interests,
• and make decisions that consider the needs of current and future generations.

It is about ensuring all voices are heard and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging.

How the Council operates

• Electing a chair: The first decision of the newly formed Council is to elect a Chair. Councillors do this at the inaugural meeting. The Chair is usually appointed for three years.
• Chair’s role and responsibilities: The Chair does not have any “executive” power. Making decisions and taking action depends upon a majority of Councillors. The Chair’s role is to provide vision and strategic leadership, demand good governance, support and partner with the chief executive, champion community interests, build strong relationships, and encourage a cohesive council team.
• Chief Executive's role: The Chief Executive is the only employee of the Council and appoints all other staff. The Council holds the Chief Executive accountable for performance, including operational policies and financial management. Decisions are sometimes delegated to committees, and the Chief Executive will have a number of delegations so the organisation can operate on a day-to-day basis.
• Council’s strategic functions: Councillors set the strategic direction, agree the services and activities to be undertaken by the Council over a 10-year period through the Long-Term Plan and decide how the services will be funded. They also approve Council policies and regional plans and strategies, including formal regional planning matters within the Canterbury region.
• Council meetings: Standing Orders (PDF file, 983KB) determine how Council meetings are run.
• Community engagement: Alongside formal meetings, councillors also stay connected with key organisations and community groups across the region, acting as a primary contact point for constituents. The Council takes the community’s views into account in its decision-making processes through engagement and formal consultation.

Learn about our vision and purpose, our values and the work we do.

Strategic direction

• Our long-term aspirations: outcomes the Council wants for the community.
• Strategic priorities: what the Council wants to focus on over the next ten years.
• Guiding principles: how the Council and staff will work to support the vision.

 Learn more about: Our  strategic direction - Understand our vision and purpose

Our governance structures and how decisions are made

Learn about: 

• Local authority Councillors
• The Local Electoral Act 2001
• The Local Governance Statement (how the Council makes decisions)
• The Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA)
• Regional strategies

 Learn more about: Our governance - Specific laws, policies, and strategies we follow and how they shape our work

Core council policies

Learn more about our:

• Long-Term Plan
• General policies

  Learn more about: Our policies - How our policies achieve our goals

Our work - What we do and why

We’ve grouped our responsibilities into three core services:

Environmental Regulation and Protection

We are an environmental regulator, responsible for managing natural resources including air, soil, water and land. We work with mana whenua, stakeholders and communities to promote the sustainable management of these natural resources.

Find out more about this area of work: Environmental Regulation and Protection

Community Preparedness and Response to Hazards

We support the community to be prepared for and able to respond to natural and human-induced hazards and events, with a focus on flood and river resilience.

Find out more about this area of work: Community preparedness and response to hazards

Public Transport

We provide robust public transport services to support growth and keep communities connected.

Find out more about this area of work: Public transport