Photo: RNZ / Eveline Harvey
Falling voter numbers, growing mistrust and leaked documents have local democracy under the microscope, and the stakes for communities at local body elections are high.
Local body elections do not always attract the glamour or high-stakes drama of a general election, and they can struggle to pull in voters - but they do matter.
Local Government New Zealand tells The Detail the elections remain the cornerstone of grassroots democracy. They shape how we live, work, and move through our small towns and big cities.
"Local government touches everybody's lives, every day," says LGNZ interim chief executive Scott Necklen.
"So, if you compare, for example, your electricity bill, yes, it's probably less than your rates bill - but you get one utility for that.
"When you think about your rates, you get your local road, you get your parks, you get your playgrounds, you get your swimming pool, you get your netball court, your rugby field as well as things like flood control and pest management, so you get a whole range of services that actually impact our lives on a daily basis.
"So, for me, I want people to think about the value you get for your rates."
There is now less than a month left until this year's election day, so the country can expect a flurry of last-minute campaigning, pleas, and promises from the 3500 or so candidates vying to be a mayor, councillor, or board member - as well as an increase in incriminating leaks to journalists, which, in fairness, can add some much-needed spice to vanilla election news.
Among the most recent was Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy's article about Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, which revealed on the evening of the deadly Auckland floods in 2023, "the now-council chief executive Phil Wilson went to the mayoral office at 4.15pm and 7.45pm.... and reported the mayor and staff at Friday night drinks".
It was from a "privileged and confidential" and previously unseen Auckland Council document.
Murphy says that while it comes as Brown seeks re-election, there is nothing "sinister" about the timing of the story, which was the most popular on Newsroom's site on Friday.
"No doubt that those who think this should be out, believe it should be out before an election, and so there is no doubt about that timing," Murphy tells The Detail.
"As journalists and at Newsroom, our decision making was 'well, if you obtain this document and you know these things, is it actually an active suppression in an election period not to air it, and not to put that before the voting public.
"We considered these things."
He says more leaks are possible, but does not believe it will impact Brown's chances of remaining mayor - he is the current frontrunner.
Voting is already underway. Only about 40 percent of Kiwis vote in local body elections - LGNZ is hopeful this will increase to 50 percent this year.
"If voter turnout continues to slide, I think what we will see is a loss of local democratic decision-making and a loss of localism," says Necklen.
"We fiercely believe that communities should have choice, and I think the more we see declining voter turnout, the less choice we will potentially have in the future, and I think that will be a real shame."
He wants to see changes by 2028, when the next elections are held.
"We would like to see maybe a national body, like the electoral commission, actually run a consistent national election, so that would help with consistency, it would help with just raising the profile and awareness of local government.
"We're also not sure that postal voting is the way to go as well, so we would like to see in-person voting, a throwback to going down to your local school hall, public hall, sausage sizzle, make a bit of a day of it."
He is also keen for four-year terms, a departure from the current three.
"You have got three years to do some really good work, before you start thinking about elections again, so it just means you've got a longer working cycle."
He does acknowledge that some candidates are copping abuse - online and in person, with death threats, vile comments, and relentless trolling now part of the landscape for just about anyone putting their name forward.
"Look, it's absolutely horrific, and it's certainly something we don't support in any way, shape, or form. Nobody should go to work or run for office to be subject to any kind of abuse.
"We very much support debate and good, robust conversation, but you don't play the person, that has no place in society."
Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.
You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook
