How does local government work?

Jul 31, 2025

After “I’ve never heard of any of these people! who should I vote for?” one of the questions I’m asked most often is “how does local government even work”?  Here are some things I jotted down that might help you make sense of it all.

First (and very briefly) - the big picture

Sometimes an electorate and a ward is almost the same area.  Sometimes there are 2 local board in a ward.  Sometimes a ward and a local board area are the same.   

You can view maps for each of Auckland's wards here

While central government and local government have two separate jobs to do, they can work together to get things done. For example:

  • Big regional moves (say, new stadium funding) must be consulted on with local boards, and boards feed local intel up to councillors.

  • Because Central get way more money, sometimes they help local with the cost for big stuff. The catch is - it’s only when and what they feel like, and what local ask for (this is very important).

Who does what in Local Government

A word on the politics

When someone says they want to keep the politics out, they are almost never independent. What is often being suggested is that they want to keep party politics out and get their politics in.

If you’re a human, politics refers to the decisions made by others that will negatively or positively impact your life. And for other, non-human living beings, it is also about how humans drastically impact their life.

What do politics have to do with me? explains it better than I ever could in just under a minute.

The point of spelling this out, is to remind you that:

  • the job of your elected representative is to represent YOUR interests.

  • At a table filled with other people representing the interests of the people who elected them.

  • There is meant to be negotiation to get a fair outcome that represents most people.

This is how democracy works.

Party endorsed, branded, independent or ticket ?

Being Party endorsed means that party will not stand a competitor against you in this election and that you've demonstrate alignment with their general vibe and they gave you a thumbs up that they support you.

You can run as a Party branded candidate only if you are an actual party member that has agreed to promote the policies of that party. Anyone can join a party btw, it's like being a member of the library. You just sign up. That party may financially support you and may recommend to members that they vote for you, as you clearly share interests.

Independent candidates have no party endorsement (this doesn't mean you didn't try, you may have just been unsuccessful). May have no party affiliation, or may be hiding party affilliation. May or may not have political funding. May or may not have extreme political leaning or views

And things really get interesting with Tickets. These are the like-minded candidates that come together to share costs, expertise and resources (eg party volunteers to deliver leaflets) and are clearly branded. For example Future West and West Wards.

In Auckland, Labour tends to openly run candidates, and the Greens are starting to. The National party rarely (never?) put people up as clearly branded Nats, and the right (including Act NZ first etc) usually maintain that they ‘don’t do local politics’.  They run predominantly as independents, but also use tickets to group together right leaning and generally conservative ideals.

The colouring on the billboards (hoardings) can help (hues of red, green, blue or teal) to identify where someone leans, but not always. You are best to look for specific R/L indicators, like rates - keeping them down or using them wisely?  Whether climate change is acknowledged openly, or not. Try to investigate things that are of particular interest to you.

This tool outlines candidates policies around key issues

A word on less obvious logos

When ‘the booklet’ is all you have to go on (it isn’t, but it’s conveniently delivered to your door), and all the candidates say the same thing, how can you differentiate? This is something I had trouble with too.

Mostly you want to identify the ones that are in it for themselves or don’t go to work. 

And/or the ones who seem to resonate with what you think is important.  Because once they are in, they are in for 3 years.

With local politicians and in my work as an elected member, I can tell you that on most local boards, you’ll find:

  • The passengers: someone who does little but still gets paid. This is irrespective of what political alignment they have.

  • Eager Beavers: 1–2 members who go above and beyond, giving far more time than required, with no extra pay. This is irrespective of what political alignment they have.

  • The party picks: people who are only there because of a political alignment and to ‘fill a hole’ to progress the ideals of a party.  There is no indicator of this, they can be any party, any age, any gender and any ethnicity.

  • The single-issue voices: people driven by one strong cause with no understanding of governance processes specifically. This can be a great force for good but also limiting.

A board is made up of these people, who need to work together when presented with the same information from council workers, to make the best decisions for the people of their area. 

And finally - a word on why local elections matter

It’s your everyday life.

If you care about what the city looks like and how it works, car parking, public transport, street lights, berm planting and what happens on bin day? You want to pick someone who is going to fight for your corner.

Low turnout skews the picture.

Only about 31% of Aucklanders vote in local elections, so two-thirds let others choose the mayor and councillors for them. It’s tilted toward homeowners and retirees. 

Councils spend big.

Auckland Council controls multi-billion-dollar budgets and $200-plus billion in assets. Where those dollars go (climate action? stadiums? bus lanes?) is set by the people you elect.

The decisions impact long term.

Stuff agreed to now is your neighbourhood in 10 years time.


You can find out more here