West Coast Leaders Back 4-year Terms, Polling Booths

Saturday, 22 March 2025, 7:53 pm
Article: Lois Williams - Local Democracy Reporter

West Coast civic leaders are backing a call from Nelson mayor Nick Smith for longer council terms and the use of voting booths.

Dr Smith, who heads the Local Government NZ (LGNZ) Reform Group, says postal voting is increasingly untenable, and attempts to trial online voting have also been unsuccessful.

Department of Internal Affairs figures show the number of people voting in local government elections has steadily declined, from 56 percent of electors in 1989 to a low of just 42 percent in 2022.

“A participation rate of less than half of eligible voters is an existential threat to local government,” Dr Smith said.

The best hope of reversing that trend would be a switch to the polling booth system used for general elections, he believed.

“People understand the habit of going to their library or mall with the way the Electoral Commission runs polling booth voting.

“Let’s just make voting for local elections exactly the same voter experience – we know that system works."

LGNZ is also recommending local and central government terms be increased from three years to four, and wanted the Electoral Commission to take over running council elections.

West Coast Regional Council chair Peter Haddock says he agreed with most of Dr Smith’s points.

“There should be a nationally consistent four-year term, and I believe a two-week voting period with more places to receive the votes … will get a higher voting turnout."

Buller mayor Jamie Cleine says voting systems should be consistent between local and central government.

“But I think a mixture of voting methods makes sense. Post out the voting papers and also give people a two week period to ... vote in person if they wish."

He was also in favour of a four-year term for councils, Mr Cleine said.

“The cost of elections, getting new members up to speed and the disruption elections cause for long-term strategic thinking and work programmes – these would all be reduced in a four-year term.”

Grey District mayor Tania Gibson favours a variety of voting options.

Some form of electronic voting would engage younger people in elections, and postal voting was a deterrent for many, she told LDR.

“I can’t remember the last time I posted a letter - I receive bills and all correspondence now by email. But we still need postal as an option for the generation that doesn’t use devices.”

She was also in favour of a longer, four-year term for councils.

“Three years goes very quickly for implementation and long-term planning - not to mention the cost and time of elections and disruption to staff. “

Westland District Mayor Helen Lash also gives the Dr Smith’s suggested changes the thumbs up.

“These recommendations are all long overdue - and very welcome; with voter participation declining the system needs a serious overhaul.”

Councils now needed Dr Smith’s proposed reforms turned into action, Mrs Lash said.

LGNZ is asking for public feedback on the reform group’s draft position statement, with consultation closing in late April.

The Government recently announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow the parliamentary term to be extended to four years, subject to a referendum.

Local Government Minister Simon Watts told LDR that council terms were not part of the Bill but he had feedback from councils that they would be interested to also align to a four-year term if this happened for central government.

Watts recently told The Post the Government is also open to improving local elections, but only after the 2025 vote.

The local elections are set to take place on October 11.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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