The 2001 New Zealand local elections () were triennial elections that were held ending 13 October 2001 to elect local mayors and councillors, regional councillors, and members of various other local government bodies.
Key dates relating to the local elections were as follows:
The 2001 local elections were the last occasion when first-past-the-post voting (FPP) was used exclusively. From the 2004 elections onwards, territorial authorities and regional councils could choose betw26 een FPP and the single transferable vote (STV) method. District health board elections had to use STV from 2004 and were changed to at-large elections.
The regional level of government in New Zealand is organised into areas controlled by regional councils.
The city and district level of government in New Zealand is organised into areas controlled by territorial authorities. Some of these also have the powers of regional governments and are known as unitary authorities. The Chatham Islands have their own specially legislated form of government.
All territorial authorities (including the one unitary authority) directly elected mayors.
District health boards (DHBs) were established in January 2001 through the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. At that time, the 21 DHBs had their boards appointed by the Minister of Health, Annette King. Each board has up to eleven members and seven of those are elected in local elections. As defined in section 7 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, board members for DHBs are to be elected as part of the local elections. The 2001 local elections were thus the inaugural elections for the country's then 21 DHBs. Elections were based on candidacies in local wards. <div style="overflow:scroll">
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