Whangarei District Councillor Jayne Golightly has resigned after it was discovered she is not a New Zealand citizen.
The resignation, less than a year into her tenure, means a by-election would have to be held in the Denby ward she represented.
Ms Golightly said she has since applied for New Zealand citizenship and if it was through in time, she would contest the by-election.
Whangarei District Council has confirmed that a by-election would be held in the Denby ward later in the year.
More information about the by-election timing and process would be provided later this week.
"On Friday afternoon, I received a call from Election Services. It had been bought to their attention that I was not a NZ citizen. To say I was shocked and devastated is an understatement," Ms Golightly said.
"After looking into it, it was confirmed that I was not. Today I resigned from my position as councillor."
She said she emigrated from the United Kingdom with her parents when she was just 18 months old and while she travels on a UK passport, she believed she was a New Zealand citizen.
"My mother and father were granted citizenship in 2003, when I was on my OE in the UK. I had absolutely no reason to ever question or suspect my lack of NZ citizenship. I have never seen myself as anything other than a New Zealander. New Zealand is my home."
She said the mistake was entirely her fault.
"I want to apologise wholeheartedly to our district, to voters, and the people of Denby who choose me to represent them as a WDC councillor," Ms Golightly said.
"Over the past months I have put my heart and soul into my role as elected representative, and my heels were well and truly planted, getting stuck in on the real issues our district is facing. I am committed to our community. I was honoured and proud to be in my position."
Ms Golightly spent yesterday in Auckland with the Department of Internal Affairs and filled out paperwork and documents applying for citizenship.
"And I was granted the grounds for an urgent application to my immense relief. My application is being processed and I will travel nationwide if I have to for my citizenship ceremony. I will be re-standing in the by-election."
Ms Golightly stood for election as part of the Go Whangarei group.
