By Jean Dorrell (Hamilton ratepayer)
“It won’t make any difference. Councils don’t listen to what people want. They just do what they want to.”
If you believe this (which I agree with to some extent in regard to the current Hamilton City Council) then you need to vote for a changed council. If you believe some or all the current councillors aren’t interested in what you want (whether it is lower rates, higher rates, a decent playground in your area or a cycle lane in your street), then you need to vote for different councillors.
Do some research and find out which of the candidates who are standing are interested in what is important to you. Contact them to find our more. The candidates are listed on council websites, and a list of candidates will be included with your voting papers. Candidates can also be found on social media.
Hamilton candidates: https://hamilton.govt.nz/elections2025/candidates
“I don’t pay rates, so the Council doesn’t affect me.”
If you live in Hamilton or own property in Hamilton, you are impacted by rates and the services (or lack thereof) provided. If you pay rent, your landlord pays the rates to the Council, and this is charged to you as a part of your rent. If you own property, you pay these directly.
“I’m OK with everything as it is. Other than paying rates, the Council doesn’t affect me.”
I was once like this. Big sigh! I enjoyed reading the many books I borrowed from our fabulous libraries, running and cycling along the scenic river path and walking my dogs in various well-maintained parks. I was oblivious to how much damage a Council can do to a person.
I had exciting plans in 2022. As part of these plans, I was about to put my house on the market, when HCC bizarrely designated my house part of a proposed historic heritage area. The heritage designation made my house unsaleable at anything near market value and dashed all my plans. Some of the Councillors I spoke to offered sympathetic noises but did nothing else. Most ignored me. No one cared. Evidently the elected members did not believe that their Council would or could recommend a heritage designation on a property without evidence. They did! (This was the Council elected in 2019.) While the designation was removed 18 months later, this was only after many submissions, and many tears and sleepless nights.
“They are all the same anyway.”
This could not be further from the truth. The mainstream media coverage of councillors in Hamilton in the past few years has largely painted councillors as either bland or controversial. The current councillors and the current candidates are a diverse group of people. The media (and the candidates themselves) sometimes describes them with political labels (“fiscally conservative” or “left”) but there is more to a councillor than that.
Personally, I want councillors who actually listen to people. I want a council that genuinely consults the public before making decisions and who are transparent about what is done. I want a council who prioritises essentials over nice-to-haves. But that is just me. You may want something else and that is why it is important to vote.
“Voting is complicated.”
I agree that STV (Single Transferable Vote) is complicated. I recently learned that what I did last election (rank every candidate) was not smart voting. I learnt that if you don’t like a candidate, you shouldn’t rank them. Leave the box blank.
https://www.citywatchnz.org/q-a-the-single-transferable-vote-stv-system-in-local-elections-2025/
“I can’t find a post box to post my vote.”
I hear you. As well as NZ Post shops and those rare mailboxes on the street, there will be voting boxes at Council locations such as pools, libraries, Hamilton Gardens and the Hamilton Zoo (https://hamilton.govt.nz/elections2025, FAQs Q48)
“Whatever! Who cares! It seems like a waste of time.”
Can you please hold my coffee while I step up onto my soapbox? Thanks.
The right to vote is an important right in a democratic society. Originally the only people who could vote in NZ were wealthy British men over the age of 21. I have voted in every election since I turned 18 because I’m not a wealthy white man and I feel I owe it to the women who campaigned so hard to get the law changed so that my right to vote is a given right.
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Further reading on this issue
Q & A: The Single Transferable Vote (STV) System in Local Elections 2025
