Nelson City Council

Central General Ward
The Nelson City Council provides local services and facilities, such as public transport, rubbish and recycling, libraries, parks, and recreation facilities. It also passes local regulations and makes decisions about infrastructure, such as water supply and sewerage, and about the region’s resources, including water, soil and the coastline. The council is made up of 12 councillors and the mayor. four councillors will be elected from the Central ward. The other councillors will be elected from other wards or by all voters in the city. This is a single transferable vote (STV) election, so you vote by ranking the candidates on your ballot paper. Compare the candidates and their policies to decide who to vote for in the Nelson City Council election.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

Local democracy

Local government is a foundational part of our democracy. But local democracy isn’t just about holding elections every three years – it’s about the day-to-day ways people have their say in the decisions that affect us all.

  • Strengthen council outreach to all communities, including iwi and diverse groups, to ensure their voices shape local decisions.

    Implement clearer transparent reporting on council operations and financial decisions, fostering trust and accountability with residents.

    Enhance council ability to adapt and respond to community needs and feedback, streamlining processes for effective public service delivery.

  • Remain accessible to the public, available for a phone call or a meeting or at public drop-in sessions.

    Work constructively to maintain a positive council culture and empower council staff.

    Re-establish council committees to ensure a robust democratic process.

  • Champion and articulate the immense value that lies with a Māori ward councillor sitting at the NCC and TDC table.

    Work hard to put in place better public consultation methodology in council submission processes.

    Support the chief executive with the organisational transformation work being undertaken at NCC.

  • Shift public engagement from top-down to consultative using tools like citizen assemblies and collaborative community decision-making.

    Create community-led disaster response networks to improve readiness and build stronger, more connected neighbourhoods.

    Launch initiatives to connect new residents with Whakatu Māori heritage and Aotearoa's history to build shared understanding.

  • Work to eliminate the rather artificial division of Nelson into two wards for voting because the city is too small for subdivision.

    Be a voice for people not born here because they matter.

    Work in advance on which questions to ask the population parallel to the council elections to involve people on questions that are for all.

  • Bring back council committees to enable transparency.

    Support Māori wards.

    Ensure all council employees are recompensed fairly for their efforts.

  • Maintain a democratic council table with voted members only.

    Invite speaking galleries with no deals done behind closed doors.

    Hammer down on council consent timeframes.

  • Support a project that audits staff to ensure they are meeting their job descriptions and KPIs for workplace efficiency.

    Restructure to balance efficiency, community needs and the people needed to make it work.

    Ensure the community has a voice on how they think the council is serving them through a public engagement survey.

  • Strengthen council outreach to all communities, including iwi and diverse groups, to ensure their voices shape local decisions.

    Implement clearer transparent reporting on council operations and financial decisions, fostering trust and accountability with residents.

    Enhance council ability to adapt and respond to community needs and feedback, streamlining processes for effective public service delivery.

  • Remain accessible to the public, available for a phone call or a meeting or at public drop-in sessions.

    Work constructively to maintain a positive council culture and empower council staff.

    Re-establish council committees to ensure a robust democratic process.

  • Champion and articulate the immense value that lies with a Māori ward councillor sitting at the NCC and TDC table.

    Work hard to put in place better public consultation methodology in council submission processes.

    Support the chief executive with the organisational transformation work being undertaken at NCC.

  • Shift public engagement from top-down to consultative using tools like citizen assemblies and collaborative community decision-making.

    Create community-led disaster response networks to improve readiness and build stronger, more connected neighbourhoods.

    Launch initiatives to connect new residents with Whakatu Māori heritage and Aotearoa's history to build shared understanding.

  • Work to eliminate the rather artificial division of Nelson into two wards for voting because the city is too small for subdivision.

    Be a voice for people not born here because they matter.

    Work in advance on which questions to ask the population parallel to the council elections to involve people on questions that are for all.

  • Bring back council committees to enable transparency.

    Support Māori wards.

    Ensure all council employees are recompensed fairly for their efforts.

  • Maintain a democratic council table with voted members only.

    Invite speaking galleries with no deals done behind closed doors.

    Hammer down on council consent timeframes.

  • Support a project that audits staff to ensure they are meeting their job descriptions and KPIs for workplace efficiency.

    Restructure to balance efficiency, community needs and the people needed to make it work.

    Ensure the community has a voice on how they think the council is serving them through a public engagement survey.