New Zealand's main centres have several choices in this year's mayoral elections, but smaller districts won't have any choice at all.

The latest candidate lists show three people standing in Christchurch, eight people standing in Wellington, and nineteen people standing in Auckland.

But the current mayors of Napier, Masterton, Matamata-Piako, South Taranaki, Stratford, Buller, Clutha, Grey and Hurunui will be elected unopposed.

Massey University local government expert Andy Asquith believes such a situation will give reluctant voters less reason to vote in this year's election.

"If there aren't elections for the mayoralty, then voting in the council seats and I think district health board seats will be down."

Dr Asquith said he is particularly concerned about Opotiki mayor John Forbes suggested a rival candidate stand aside, to avoid the cost of a mayoral election.

However, the lack of people standing for other positions may also translate into lower turnout as well.

Councils and district health boards are trying to increase voting rates, which reached as low as 30-percent in some districts in 2010 and 2013.

But there are no challengers to many incumbent ward councillors, including Auckland Council Franklin ward councillor Bill Cashmore.

Dr Asquith said the lack of candidates is an indication of a lack of interest in the local elections, and the lack of candidate and policy choices will put many people off voting.

"If we have a situation where incumbents are elected unopposed, that's hardly going to fire up people's enthusiasm and get them off their backsides to vote."

The postal voting forms are sent out in the 16th September and must be returned to electoral offices before closes on the 8th of October.

Christchurch mayoral candidates

Lianne Dalziel, Best for Christchurch
Tubby Hansen, Economic Euthenics
John Minto, Keep our Assets Canterbury

Wellington mayoral candidates

Helene Ritchie
Nicola Young
Johnny Overton
Keith Johnson
Justin Lester
Nick Leggett
Andy Foster
Jo Coughlan

Auckland mayoral candidates

Aileen Austin, independent
Penny Bright, independent
Patrick Brown, Communist League
Tricia Cheel, Stop
Vic Crone, independent
Phil Goff, independent
David Hay, independent
Alezix Heneti, no affiliation
Adam Holland, Auckland Legalise Cannabis
Susan Kruger, independent
Stan Martin, independent
Binh Thanh Nguyen, independent
Phil O'Connor, Christians Against Abortion
John Palino, independent
Tyrone Raumati, Greater Auckland
Chloe Swarbrick, independent
Mark Thomas, independent
Wayne Young, no affiliation