Local Government New Zealand says local body elections are in desperate need of fresh candidates this year - and have launched a campaign to lift participation in Local Authority Elections to 50 percent.

If that target is reached, it would be the first time since 1998.

Vice President Brendan Duffy believes success for them would not only involve increased voting participation but also candidates throwing their hat in the ring.

He says they need more people putting their hand up to give communities a broader selection base.

As part of the campaign, an online hashtag to engage younger populations with local body elections has also been set up.

Hashtag '#Vote16NZ' is aimed at helping engage younger people – just 34 percent of those who did vote in 2010 were between the ages of 18-29.

Vice President Brendan Duffy said traditional avenues of participation are no longer working with today's generations, and says he's looking forward to the potential of online voting being used in elections this year, which will be held in October.