Ngā pōtitanga me te whai reo

Elections and representation

Everything you need to know about elections including: the difference between local and general elections, how the elections process works, why you should vote and how representation works.

Group of women walking alongside rack of parked bikes with city in the background.

Local versus general elections

Discover the difference between local and general elections.

Auckland Council staff walking in the Pride Festival parade.

Why voting matters

Find out why you should vote and what your vote influences.

How local elections work

Take a closer look at how the local elections process works, including the Electoral Commission’s role.

A large group of the community watching an event.

How we ensure all Aucklanders are represented

Learn how we decide which candidates you can vote for and how local ward and board boundaries are defined.

Sign up for learning resources

You will receive separate educational resources for four lessons based on the information on this site.

Each lesson takes a closer look at the topic through four fun activities with clear learning objectives that are easily adaptable for any classroom or interest group.