The 2010 New Zealand local elections (MÃÂori: Nga PÃ Âtitanga ÃÂ-Rohe 2010) were triennial elections that were held from 17 September until 9 October 2010 to elect local mayors and councillors, regional councillors, and members of various other local government bodies.
10 of New Zealand's 11 regions and all 67 cities and districts participated in the election. This was the first election held for the newly-formed Auckland Council; an amalgamation of the previous councils in the Auckland region.
Key dates for the election as set out by the Local Government Commission and Elections New Zealand are:
This was the first time elections were held for the new Auckland Council, and the 2010 Auckland mayoral election took place concurrently.
The 2010 elections did not include Canterbury Regional Council. In March 2010, the National Government passed special legislation deferring Canterbury Regional Council's election until 2013 and replacing the existing councillors with appointed commissioners.
The 2010 elections were the first for the Southern District Health Board, which was formed from the merger of the Otago and Southland DHBs on 1 May 2010. The Southern DHB had 14 members from the two former boards, but was reduced to the standard seven elected members after the election.
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 unitary authorities) directly elected mayors.
There was a notable leftward shift in the local elections throughout the country and many notable long term centre-right mayors were replaced by left-wing mayors throughout the country.
In the new position of Auckland super-mayor, Manukau City mayor Len Brown (a Labour party politician) replaced centre-right Auckland City mayor John Banks.
In Wellington, Green Party candidate Celia Wade-Brown replaced right leaning, Kerry Prendergast.
New left-wing mayors replaced retiring incumbents in Wanganui and New Plymouth and incumbent mayors like that of Janie Annear in Timaru defeated conservative challengers.