When your voting papers arrive, it can feel like there are a lot of boxes to tick.

The good news? It really comes down to four main sections, each with a clear role. Here’s how to understand what you’re voting for and what it means for your area.

1. Mayor – For the Whole District

Everyone across Central Otago votes for the Mayor.

• The mayor is the overall leader of the Central Otago District Council.
• They don’t just represent one town — they represent the entire district.
• The mayor works with councillors and staff to set the vision and make district-wide decisions.

Learn about the mayoral candidates

2. Ward Councillors – For Your Area

The district is divided into four wards: Cromwell, Vincent, Maniototo and Teviot Valley.

• You’ll see councillor(s) from your ward only on your voting papers.
• Ward councillors sit at the council table and make decisions for the district, but they also bring the local voice of your community into those discussions.
• Think of them as your main representatives at council level.

See your ward council candidates

3. Community Board – Grassroots Local Voice

Each ward also has a Community Board. These groups focus on day-to-day local issues.

• They meet every six weeks and advocate for their area.
• They can’t make the final decisions on everything, but they raise community concerns directly with council.
• Each board has a mix of elected members (chosen by you) and appointed councillors.

Community boards also have a public forum – anyone can come along, speak for up to 5 minutes, and be heard.

See your community board candidates

Examples:

• Cromwell Community Board covers Cromwell, Bannockburn, Pisa Moorings, Lowburn, Tarras.
• Vincent Community Board covers Alexandra, Clyde, Omakau, Ophir, Earnscleugh and more.
• Maniototo Community Board covers Ranfurly, Naseby, Wedderburn, Oturehua, Waipiata and surrounds.
• Teviot Valley Community Board covers Roxburgh, Millers Flat, Ettrick, Lake Roxburgh Village.

4. Otago Regional Council (ORC) – For the Whole Region

The ORC covers all of Otago, not just Central. When you vote for ORC councillors, you’re choosing people to look after:

• Environment – rivers, lakes, land, air.
• Civil defence – floods, earthquakes and emergency management.
• Public transport planning – buses and regional travel.
• Climate strategy – reducing emissions and preparing for change.

These decisions affect all of Otago, so the councillors you elect have a big say in how the region is managed.

Here’s where it gets a little different. Unlike the rest of your voting papers, the Otago Regional Council (ORC) uses the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system. That means instead of ticking a box, you rank candidates in order of preference.

• Write “1” next to your favourite candidate.
• If you have a second choice, write “2”, then “3”, and so on.
• You can rank as many or as few as you like. Even if you just rank one person, that’s still valid.

See your ORC candidates

Putting It All Together

So when your papers arrive, you’ll see four areas to vote in:

• Mayor – district-wide leader.
• Ward councillor(s) – your area’s representative at council.
• Community Board – local grassroots voice.
• ORC councillor(s) – regional decision-makers.

Simple rule of thumb:

• Mayor = whole district.
• Ward = your area.
• Community Board = your neighbourhood voice.
• ORC = whole Otago region.