How to enrol

You're eligible to enrol and vote if you're 18 years or older, a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident, and you've lived in New Zealand continuously for 12 months or more at some time in your life.

Every eligible person in a household can enrol and post their own individual vote.

If you're enrolled for the general election for Parliament, you'll automatically be placed on Council's electoral roll.

Māori roll option

If you're Māori, you have the choice to enrol on either the Māori roll or the general roll. This decision determines which candidates you can vote for in both local and general elections.

If you're on the Māori roll, you will be voting in Palmerston North's Te Pūao Māori Ward. If you're on the general roll, you'll be voting in Te Hirawanui General Ward.

When can you choose?

  • If you’re enrolling for the first time, you can choose your roll when you sign up.
  • You can also change rolls, but not in the 3 months before local or general elections, or before a by-election in Palmerston North.

Your choice matters, so pick the roll that feels right for you!

Read more about Māori Electoral Option

Check to see if you're enrolled or need to update your details

How to enrol

Enrol online at vote.nz/enrol. It's super easy! Or, you can also:

  • download an enrolment form [PDF 406KB]
  • grab a form from our Customer Service Centre or from one of our libraries
  • phone free on 0800 36 76 56
  • text your name and address to free text 3676 and the form will be posted out to you.

If English is not your first language

The Vote NZ website has multilingual information about enrolling to vote.

If you own property and pay rates in Palmy but don't live here

You can vote in Palmerston North City Council elections if you are registered as a ratepayer elector. Use the enrolment form below.

Enrolment form for ratepayer electors(PDF, 185KB)

Need help to enrol?

Support is available to help you enrol and vote if you have a disability.

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