Election officials advise would-be mayors and councillors to get their nominations in for the council elections in October.
Election Services manager Dale Ofsoske said candidates had been slower than usual this year to put their names forward.
Halfway through the nomination period, only six people had been nominated for council positions in Northland, and Mr Ofsoske said it was a similar picture throughout the country.
He said it was not unusual for people to hand in the paperwork just before nominations close; but it was a risky practice.
If any documentation was missing or incorrect, and a candidate turned up too late, Mr Ofsoske said there may not be enough time to correct the problem before the deadline.
Nominations for the elections close at midday on Friday, 16 August.
