Nominations open soon for would-be regional councillors

People keen to give local body politics a go and help shape Northland's future are being encouraged to stand at this year's local authority elections in October.

Ahead of an official nomination period which starts in mid-July, Northland's local authorities have launched a collective campaign 'True Locals', which aims to lift participation in local body elections and encourage a more diverse range of people to stand for councils.

An example of a ‘True Locals’ advertisement.  The collective campaign aims to lift participation in Northland’s local body elections and encourage a more diverse range of people to stand for councils.

The councils will also begin hosting information meetings for would-be councillors shortly (jointly where possible) and in most cases, soon after the official nomination period begins.

In the regional council's case, it will hold stand-alone information evenings from 5:30pm-7:30pm for the following two constituencies:

• Coastal Central; Parua Bay Community Centre, Monday 18 July
• Coastal South; Ruakaka Recreation Centre, Thursday 21 July.

In its remaining five constituencies, it will host joint information evenings (again all from 5.30pm-7.30pm) with the relevant local district council.  Those meetings are:

• Coastal North; Turner Centre, Kerikeri, Wednesday 27 July
• Hokianga-Kaikohe; Far North District Council chambers, Kaikohe, Thursday 28 July
• Kaipara; Dargaville Town Hall, Dargaville, Monday 01 August
• Whangarei Urban; Northland Regional Council chambers, Whangarei, Tuesday 02 August
• Te Hiku; Te Ahu Centre conference room, Kaitaia, Wednesday 03 August.

Regional council Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske says nominations for candidates officially open Friday 15 July.

Anyone keen to stand as a candidate for one of the nine positions on the NRC will have from 15 July until noon on Friday 12 August to get their nominations in.

Mr Ofsoske says anyone over the age of 18 can stand for election as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and enrolled on the Parliamentary electoral roll.

In the regional council’s case, Northlanders will vote for nine councillors representing seven constituencies; Te Hiku, Hokianga-Kaikohe, Coast North (two councillors), Coastal Central, Whangarei Urban (two councillors), Coastal South and Kaipara.

Mr Ofsoske says candidate information booklets are available now from any Northland Regional Council office.

Nomination forms will not be available until 15 July, again from offices, by phoning (0800) 002 004 or downloading them from the council’s website via www.nrc.govt.nz/elections2016

Voting documents will be sent out from Friday 16 September and must be returned in the envelope provided by noon on election day, Saturday 08 October.