Photo: RNZ / Isra'a Emhail
Aucklanders can now formally step up to stand in the city's 2025 local elections, with candidate nominations opening.
As well as mayor, 171 council and local board positions would be up for grabs in October.
But just a few months out from voting, Auckland Council was still worried fewer people than usual were expressing an interest in the roles on offer.
Auckland Council's governance and engagement general manager Lou-Ann Ballantyne hoped to at least match 2022 numbers, where 466 people stood.
Additionally, only one person has said they would challenge mayor Wayne Brown for his position - independent candidate and current councillor Kerrin Leoni. Last time there were 23 mayoral candidates.
"We would expect to see a few more people putting their hands up by now. But it's early days, we'll see how the nomination period goes," said Ballantyne.
"We would like to see a wider range of people putting their hands up so people have more of an incentive to go out and vote and find out more about who is standing and what their policies are."
She said voters having more options was better for democracy.
"If we don't get enough numbers to make it a bit of a competition, we see voter turnout dropping off."
She acknowledged more potential candidates had expressed concerns about their safety and wellbeing this year than previously.
She said the council offered training and advice to elected members including on social media and staying safe at in-person appearances.
Richard Northey, who retired from local government this year after first being elected in 1979, said abuse faced by elected representatives was taken more seriously now.
"In the past even death threats have not been enough for police and the council to take it sufficiently enough."
"That is changing and so it ought because people who've got something to offer in terms of leadership and decision making for their community ought not to be subjected to that."
He said the effort and resources needed to get elected were also off-putting for independent candidates.
"It's really difficult for someone who is standing for a council seat in a large city just as an individual to get selected without the support of a group.
"Some people might be realising I should've joined one of the groups a year ago because most of them have already selected their candidates."
Councillor Angela Dalton who was also leaving local government after 18 years, agreed it was a tough but fulfilling gig.
"What's putting people off is the current environment, bullying, social media, rates increases that everyone's unhappy about, they don't want to be a part of a council that is on that trajectory."
She encouraged those passionate about serving their community to stand and said council staff were there to support them with any challenges.
'It's such a privilege to serve your community and if you really know what your why is, why you want to do it, then go for it."
Nomination forms were due by Friday 1 August at 12pm either online or dropped off to a library.
