1 October 2004

Last chance to have your say – vote now!

For immediate release on 4 October 2004

“Vote now, it’s your last chance”, says Local Government New Zealand President Basil Morrison as the deadline for voting in the local body elections draws closer.

“If you want to vote, do it now. All voting papers have to be received by 12 noon Saturday so post your votes by Thursday 7 October at the latest.”

Mr Morrison said voting so far has been slightly slower than normal but council returning officers were expecting a last minute flurry.

“Intitial voting returns vary around the country with higher returns in rural areas. Many people are obviously leaving voting to the last week. We urge city-dwellers to match their rural counterparts and play a part in the elections.

“This is your only chance to choose the people you want to make the critical decisions about your community. Not only does local government provide you with essential services such as water, roads and rubbish collection, it also works to make your community an enjoyable and thriving place to live. Even if you don’t pay rates, you receive the benefits of local government.

“If you haven’t voted already, now is the time to learn about the candidates. Use the media, use websites – whatever you do, get informed and vote. It’s one way of ensuring you have input into the future of your community, says Mr Morrison.

This year 10 councils and all district health boards are using the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system to conduct their elections. This means all voters, except for those in Marlborough District, are using two different systems to vote for candidates (First Past the Post and Single Transferable Vote). Voters are urged to follow the instructions in their voting pack.

Local Government New Zealand is the national voice of all 86 councils of New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media