With just two weeks until nominations open for this year’s local authority elections, a business leader is urging capable and commercially minded candidates to put their names forward.

The Local Government Business Forum has called for stronger leadership and a clearer understanding of business issues at the council level, warning that decisions made by local authorities directly affect the economy and everyday life.

Forum Chair Matt Cowley said it was essential councils were well-governed, given the importance of local government to New Zealand.

He said council decisions on spending, rating, and regulation were incredibly influential in shaping the business environment, and it was important that mayors and councillors understood the challenges facing businesses and how councils could help rather than hinder them.

The Forum is encouraging candidates who demonstrate commercial and financial awareness, a focus on efficient delivery of infrastructure and services, and a growth-focused mindset. It also wants to see candidates who base their decisions on evidence, respect property rights and regulatory certainty, show collaborative leadership, and support transparent and accountable governance. Candidates should be solutions-focused when approaching reform and be driven by the best outcomes for residents and ratepayers.

Cowley said it was equally important that voters take time to examine the performance of current councillors and mayors when deciding who to support at the ballot box.

“We need strong candidates to put their names forward. We also need the business community and residents to be informed and vote for candidates that can provide the leadership needed,” he said.

“Local government touches every business and every member of society every day. We need good people governing them.”

Candidate nomination forms for the 2025 local authority elections will be available from councils. Nominations open on 4 July and close at 12 noon on 1 August. Voting papers will be delivered to electors from 9 September and voting closes at 12 noon on Saturday 11 October.