3 November 2015

Te Arawa election result bodes well for future, says Rotorua mayor

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick says today’s election results for the Te Arawa Partnership Board bodes well for helping to achieve the Rotorua 2030 goal of an excellent partnership between council and Te Arawa.

Provisional results show there were nearly 3000 votes cast compared to the 300 votes cast in the last Te Arawa Standing Committee election just over five years ago.

“The increased interest by Te Arawa people throughout the entire engagement process has been encouraging,” she said.

“I know those leading the establishment of the partnership are generally pleased with how things have gone.”

People had the option of postal or online voting.

“It’s particularly pleasing to see that nearly a quarter of those who voted took the opportunity to vote online. It’s a good indication of what could potentially be achieved if online voting is introduced at next year’s local body election,” said Mrs Chadwick.

“When you consider that in the last local body elections Maori voter turnout was only about 12 per cent this turnout is very good.

“Things are still on track to having the new Te Arawa Partnership Board in place in December.”

Key facts about the election process:

• 26 candidates stood for 14 seats

• Two ‘meet the candidates’ events were held with more than 170 attending

• Voter return was 25.46 per cent of eligible voters

• 23 per cent of those who voted, did so online

• The standing committee was established 22 years ago to provide a Te Arawa perspective.

• Since the last election in May 2010, it was made up of six elected iwi representatives, two council-appointed members and the mayor as chair.

• Results are on www.tatautatau.com

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