Key dates for Tāmaki Makaurau by-election
The Electoral Commission is preparing for a by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday 6 September 2025.
The by-election is being held to elect a member of Parliament for the Māori electorate following the passing of Te Pāti Māori MP, Takutai Tarsh Kemp.
In a by-election, people have one vote for their electorate MP. There is no party vote.
Candidate nominations for the by-election close at noon on Tuesday 5 August, advance voting starts on Monday 25 August, and election day is Saturday 6 September.
Only eligible voters enrolled in the Tāmaki Makaurau Māori electorate will be able to vote in the by-election. Voters can enrol or update their details at vote.nz or call 0800 36 76 56 to ask for an enrolment form to be sent to them.
Under the Electoral Act, from the date the vacancy is declared, voters of Māori descent enrolled on the general roll cannot change to the Māori roll to vote in the by-election. Māori who are not enrolled can still enrol and make their roll choice before the by-election.
The Tāmaki Makaurau Māori electorate stretches across Auckland from the Waitākere Ranges to Bucklands Beach. It includes most of the southern and eastern suburbs and Waiheke Island. It does not include the North Shore.
Key dates for the by-election are listed below.
| TĀMAKI MAKAURAU BY-ELECTION TIMETABLE |
|
| Wednesday 9 July | Vacancy declared by the Speaker |
| Thursday 10 July | Start of the regulated period for election advertising expenses |
| Monday 14 July | Date of by-election announced by the Prime Minister |
| Tuesday 15 July | Nominations open for the by-election |
| Wednesday 30 July | Writ day The Governor-General issues writ directing the Electoral Commission to hold the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election |
| Tuesday 5 August | Nominations close at noon for candidates in the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election Tāmaki Makaurau by-election candidates announced in the afternoon by the Electoral Commission Voting paper printing starts |
| Wednesday 20 August | Overseas voting starts |
| Monday 25 August | Advance voting starts |
| Friday 5 September | All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight |
| Saturday 6 September | Election day for the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election Voting places open from 9am to 7pm Preliminary results progressively available from 7pm on www.electionresults.govt.nz Targets for release are: by 9pm results from 50% of voting places by 10.30pm results from 95% of voting places These are targets not guarantees |
| Wednesday 17 September | Official Results declared (including special declaration and overseas votes) |
| Monday 22 September | Deadline for applications for judicial recount |
| Tuesday 23 September | Return of Writ by Electoral Commission naming successful candidate (presuming no recount) |
| Monday 15 December | Deadline for Returns of Candidate Election Expenses, Donations and Loans to Electoral Commission |