Local Government Act 1974

Land drainage and rivers clearance - Land drainage areas

505: Procedure for demanding poll

You could also call this:

"How to ask the council to hold a vote so everyone in the area can have a say"

Illustration for Local Government Act 1974

You can demand a poll if you want the council to ask everyone in the area for their opinion. This happens when the council decides to hold a poll or when at least 15% of the people who can vote in the area ask for one. You need to deliver a document with these demands to the council's main office at least three working days before a certain date mentioned in section 504(5).

If you want to demand a poll, you need to sign a document saying you want one. You also need to write your name and address on the document so the council can check if you are allowed to vote in the area. The address you write needs to be in the area where the poll is being held, and you need to sign the document to show you really want a poll on whether the council should make a certain decision under section 504(1).

The council will look at the document to see if you are an elector and if your address is in the right area. They do this by checking the information you provided against their records. This process is part of what is outlined in section 504(3)(a).

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This page was last updated on 10 September 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM421454.

Topics:

Government and voting > Local councilsHousing and property > Land use

504: Declarations in relation to drainage areas, or

"Having a say in how your local council manages land drainage areas"

505A: Poll on proposed declaration, or

"Voting on a special area for land drainage: having a say on council plans"

Part 29Land drainage and rivers clearance
Land drainage areas

505Procedure for demanding poll

For the purposes of section 504(3)(a), a demand for a poll is made if—
the council resolves that a poll be taken; or
15% or more of the electors in the relevant area demand a poll, and a document containing the demands is delivered to the principal office of the council at least 3 working days before the date referred to in section 504(5).

An elector has demanded a poll if he or she—
signs a document which clearly expresses that he or she demands a poll on whether the council should make the proposed declaration under section 504(1); and
states, against his or her signature, his or her name and address with sufficient accuracy to determine whether—
1. he or she is an elector; and
2. the given address is in the relevant area.

Notes

Section 505: replaced, on 7 July 2004, by section 16 of the Local Government Act 1974 Amendment Act 2004 (2004 No 64).