Mission Briefing: Horowhenua District Council Releases Pre-Election Report
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to dive into the Local Election this October as a candidate or a voter armed with all the knowledge you need to feel suitably informed.
Luckily, Horowhenua District Council's Pre-election Report, which is now available online, is the perfect mission briefing. Think of the report as the Alfred to your Batman, the Kitt to your Knight Rider, the Jarvis to your Ironman – on hand to help you navigate this year's election and beyond.
In this year's election, community members will choose the Mayor and Councillors for the next three years, and those in the Foxton area will elect the Te Awahou Foxton Community Board. There is also a binding referendum being held concurrently, which will decide whether the Māori Ward is retained from the 2028 local election.
In the report, Horowhenua District Council chief executive Monique Davidson says Council is not just a building, a logo, or faceless bureaucracy. It's made up of real people who have put their hands up to serve this community because they care about its future.
'The Mayor and 12 Councillors are elected to lead, but more importantly, to serve. They carry the responsibility on behalf of the estimated 38,200 people who call Horowhenua home today, and for the generations still to come,' she says.
'For many, Council might be experienced through a rates invoice, a consent application, or when something has gone wrong. And yes, we don't always get it right. But behind every decision, every service and every project, is a team of people working hard to make a positive difference.'
Those considering standing for Council should understand the nature of the responsibility. It's not about visibility or recognition. It's about contribution. It's about making decisions that improve people's lives, often in quiet and practical ways, and staying focused on what matters for the future.
The next Council term will be one of the most significant in the district's recent history. Council will be required to navigate major reform programmes led by Central Government, including changes to water services, the Resource Management Act and the very structure of local government. These are fundamental changes that will affect how services are delivered, how they are funded and how our communities develop.
At the same time, Council is progressing transformational local projects. The next
Council will help lead through three of the five years of Ōtaki to North of Levin expressway construction, shape the future of the Levin Town Centre, oversee significant wastewater upgrades and more. These are long-term investments that will shape the heart and function of the district for decades to come.
'Council's role is to see the big picture, listen to many voices and lead with collective purpose. That requires open minds, clear values, robust debate, and a shared commitment to serve,' Mrs Davidson says.
The Pre-election Report describes who we are as a district, Council's overarching vision of enabling what matters for its community, achievements in the last three years, preparing for the future, the challenges to overcome, major projects, and financials. You can find out more about standing for Council and read the full Pre-election Report at www.horowhenua.govt.nz/stand.
The 2025 Local Body Election – Key dates
Tuesday 9 September 2025: Voting documents posted out, voting opens
Saturday 11 October 2025: Voting closes at 12 noon
Thursday 16 October – Sunday 19 October 2025: Declaration of final results.
Stand for something. Stand for Council.
Don't just dream. Vote to be heard.
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Mission Briefing: Horowhenua District Council Releases Pre-Election Report
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to dive into the Local Election this October as a candidate or a voter armed with all the knowledge you need to feel suitably informed. Luckily, Horowhenua District Council's Pre-election Report, which is now available online, is the perfect mission briefing. Think of the report as the Alfred to your Batman, the Kitt to your Knight Rider, the Jarvis to your Ironman – on hand to help you navigate this year's election and beyond. In this year's election, community members will choose the Mayor and Councillors for the next three years, and those in the Foxton area will elect the Te Awahou Foxton Community Board. There is also a binding referendum being held concurrently, which will decide whether the Māori Ward is retained from the 2028 local election. In the report, Horowhenua District Council chief executive Monique Davidson says Council is not just a building, a logo, or faceless bureaucracy. It's made up of real people who have put their hands up to serve this community because they care about its future. 'The Mayor and 12 Councillors are elected to lead, but more importantly, to serve. They carry the responsibility on behalf of the estimated 38,200 people who call Horowhenua home today, and for the generations still to come,' she says. 'For many, Council might be experienced through a rates invoice, a consent application, or when something has gone wrong. And yes, we don't always get it right. But behind every decision, every service and every project, is a team of people working hard to make a positive difference.' Those considering standing for Council should understand the nature of the responsibility. It's not about visibility or recognition. It's about contribution. It's about making decisions that improve people's lives, often in quiet and practical ways, and staying focused on what matters for the future. The next Council term will be one of the most significant in the district's recent history. Council will be required to navigate major reform programmes led by Central Government, including changes to water services, the Resource Management Act and the very structure of local government. These are fundamental changes that will affect how services are delivered, how they are funded and how our communities develop. At the same time, Council is progressing transformational local projects. The next Council will help lead through three of the five years of Ōtaki to North of Levin expressway construction, shape the future of the Levin Town Centre, oversee significant wastewater upgrades and more. These are long-term investments that will shape the heart and function of the district for decades to come. 'Council's role is to see the big picture, listen to many voices and lead with collective purpose. That requires open minds, clear values, robust debate, and a shared commitment to serve,' Mrs Davidson says. The Pre-election Report describes who we are as a district, Council's overarching vision of enabling what matters for its community, achievements in the last three years, preparing for the future, the challenges to overcome, major projects, and financials. You can find out more about standing for Council and read the full Pre-election Report at The 2025 Local Body Election – Key dates Tuesday 9 September 2025: Voting documents posted out, voting opens Saturday 11 October 2025: Voting closes at 12 noon Thursday 16 October – Sunday 19 October 2025: Declaration of final results. Stand for something. Stand for Council. Don't just dream. Vote to be heard.
Otago Daily Times
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Scrapping councils would incur ‘damaging cost'
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Jones says he wants to break up DoC
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