Pre-election Report | Hamilton City Council

About the Pre-election Report

Whether you're stepping up to stand or stepping into the voting booth, the Pre-election Report is your essential guide. Prepared by the Chief Executive under the Local Government Act, it delivers a clear-eyed look at the key issues, priorities, and future direction of your local council.

No spin – just the facts and context you need to make informed, confident decisions in the lead-up to the election.

Read it. Use it. Take action, Hamilton! The future depends on you!

Click on the orange tile below to read the Pre-election Report.

Background information

The report gives a concise, non-political summary of the basics of Council, its structure, major projects, finances, and challenges ahead.

It also serves as a civic education tool – supporting community understanding of local government and encouraging informed participation well beyond the 2025 election period.

Key challenges

Hamilton Kirikiriroa is growing fast, and it is easy to see the changes happening all around us. Council must manage the pressures of change while protecting what makes our city special.

That means managing infrastructure needs, responding to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, and strengthening trust with communities.

It also means navigating rising living costs, global uncertainty, and shifts in local government.

Crucially, it means upholding our responsibilities under Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi as the foundation of genuine partnership and meaningful progress.

The report outlines key challenges including:

Water reform – Preparing for the most significant transformation in local government in a generation.
Designing the future Council – Rethinking how Council can best serve our purpose: improving the wellbeing of Hamiltonians.
Financial stability – Balancing the books without losing sight of community priorities and long-term needs.
Growth – Navigating rapid growth in a changing system.
Working in partnership – Partnering for better outcomes – locally, regionally, and nationally.
Government reforms – The changing rules of local government – making it work for Hamilton Kirikiriroa.
Trust and confidence – Delivering reliable, everyday services to strengthen Council’s connection with the community.

The report also details the opportunities that come from growth such as international flights, the regional theatre, and the Eastern Transport Corridor, and notes the challenge now is to leverage these gains while tackling financial, social, and environmental pressures head-on.

Why does it matter?

The Pre-election Report isn’t campaign material. It’s an independent, factual summary prepared by Council’s Chief Executive to help candidates, voters, and all residents understand the issues – not the politics.