Just over half of South Wairarapa’s eligible voters cast ballots in four of the five triennial local body elections since 2010, and while that’s higher than the national average it could mean democracy in the district is fading from sunlight to mid-grey.
The details reveal some good news: local democracy is not yet dying in darkness, and this district has higher voter participation than the national average.
The final return for the South Wairarapa 2022 election shows 4,901 voters (54.28%) cast a ballot. Some 55.49% of Greytown Ward voters (1,770) turned out, compared with 55.01% (1,745) of Martinborough Ward and 51.97% (1,386) of Featherston Ward’s eligible voters.
Across New Zealand, voter turnout figures have recorded a slow but steady decline.
Data from 1989, for example, shows 56% of registered voters cast a valid ballot. By the 2022 elections the nationwide total was just 41%.
The South Wairarapa returns for the 2019 election showed voter turnout was 55.69% – slightly higher than three years later.
This saw an increase in Martinborough Ward participation to 60.44% – the highest in recent elections – with Greytown at 54.79%, and Featherston Ward lagging at 51.16% valid voter turnout.
Earlier South Wairarapa district-wide turnout levels fluctuated, going slightly higher to 56.09% in 2016 after dropping sharply to 45.06% in 2013 and hitting a midway 50.74% in 2010.
The number of women elected at district level nationwide has shown steady growth. In 2010 28% of councillors were women, by 2022 this had risen to 37%.
Women voted into mayoral offices fared a little better, going from 18% of the nation’s mayors in 2010 to nearly one-third – 32 percent – by 2022.
South Wairarapa had one woman mayor in the 15-year period to 2025. To date, two women have declared as mayoral candidates – Fran Wilde and Leah Hawkins.
One issue which has the potential to turn out voter is the question of the ballot on a district-wide Maori Ward.
Some local councils, including South Wairarapa, that have established Māori wards for the 2025-2028 term will be holding polls on the issue at the October local elections.
The question on the ballot: whether or not voters support keeping the Maori Ward for the next two triennial elections – in 2028 and 2031.
For more information about the 2025 Local Government Elections visit: vote.nz/local-elections/about/local-elections-2025
