18 November, 2014

Nominations open soon for Te Hiku council seat

An official nomination period for those wishing to contest the Te Hiku seat left vacant by the death of Councillor Dennis Bowman will begin Monday 24 November.

Independent contractor Election Services, which is handling the by-election for the regional council, says the relatively lengthy, legally-prescribed process means it will probably be March next year before the eventual winner is officially sworn in and takes their seat around the council table.

However, Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske says the by-election process effectively begins in earnest with the formal nomination period, which will run from 24 November until noon on Monday 22 December.

He says to be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be:
• enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere in New Zealand); and
• a New Zealand citizen.

Nomination forms – including further information for would-be candidates – will be available during this period from:
• Council’s Kaitaia office, 192 Commerce St, Kaitaia
• Council’s Whangarei office, 36 Water St, Whangarei
• Online: www.nrc.govt.nz/byelection
• By telephoning the electoral office on 0800 922 822 (a form will be posted).

“Those seeking nomination must have their completed nominations into
Officials’ hands no later than noon on Monday 22 December.”

However, Mr Ofsoske says election officials usually advise people not to leave filing their nominations too close to that deadline, in case there is some problem with the form which could render it invalid if it could not be corrected/completed in time.

Meanwhile, he says assuming more than one eligible candidate stands, postal voting documents will be mailed to all eligible voters from Tuesday 27 January 2015.

The voting period is three weeks from then until noon on Tuesday 17 February.

ENDS

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