July 22nd 2013

Nominations open for local government and District Health Board candidates

Now is your chance to give local politics a go and have a say in the future of your district.

Nominations for candidates wishing to stand in this year’s local authority elections opened on 19 July and close at 12noon on Friday, 16 August.

Electoral Officer Richard Palmer says anyone wishing to stand as a candidate for Hastings District Council, the Hastings District Rural Community Board, Flaxmere Licensing Trust or Hawke’s Bay District Health Board should get their nominations in early.

“We are encouraging anyone who wants to make a difference in the local community to consider standing. Elected members make decisions which reflect the wishes of the community and impact on everybody’s lives, so it is important that they are people who know what their communities think and who have the trust of the people.”

“Anyone over the age of 18 can stand for election as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and enrolled on the electoral roll.”

The recent amendments to the Local Electoral Act have introduced changes to the opening and closing dates for nominations, and the requirement that all documents for the nomination are submitted together.

These documents are the nomination form, nomination deposit of $200.00, and the optional candidate profile statement and photo. The Electoral Officer cannot accept candidate profile statements and photos submitted at a later date.

It is important that people do not leave their nominations until the last day. Candidates need to leave themselves time to correct any deficiencies, as any nominations that arrive after 12noon on Friday 16th August cannot be accepted.

The Candidate Information Handbook available on Council’s website has information for prospective candidates to help with completing nominations. There are two separate nomination forms – one for Hastings District Council/Rural Community Board/Flaxmere Licensing Trust candidates, and one for Hawke’s Bay District Health Board candidates.

Nomination forms and the Handbook are available from the Electoral Officer, Hastings District Council Civic Administration Building, 207 Lyndon Road East, Hastings.

The election is by postal voting with voting papers being posted out from 20 September 2013. These must be returned by midday on Election Day, 12 October 2013.

For information on standing as a candidate visit www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/2013-council-elections or www.lgnz.co.nz.

ENDS

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