Date: 08 July, 2013

Nominations open soon for would-be regional councillors

People keen to give local body politics a go and help shape Northland’s future – now’s your chance!

Nominations for candidates wishing to stand for the Northland Regional Council (NRC) in this year’s October local authority elections officially open on Friday next week (subs: Fri 19 July).

Regional Council Electoral Officer Dale Ofsoske says anyone keen to stand as a candidate for one of the nine positions on the NRC will have from Friday 19 July until noon on Friday 16 August to get their nominations in.

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.

Changes signed off by the Local Government Commission earlier this year mean at the local body elections on October 12 Northlanders will vote for nine regional councillors (one more than currently elected) representing seven, smaller constituencies across the North.
Those constituencies are Te Hiku, Hokianga-Kaikohe, Coast North (two councillors), Coastal Central, Whangarei Urban (two councillors), Coastal South and Kaipara.
Mr Ofsoske says nomination forms and candidate information booklets will be available from 19 July from any Northland Regional Council office.  (SUBS: Legally, they can’t be released before 19 July when nominations open).  Copies can also be obtained by phoning (0800) 002 004 or downloaded from the council’s website via www.nrc.govt.nz/elections 

Voting documents will be sent out from 20 September and must be returned in the envelope provided by noon on Election Day, Saturday 12 October.

ENDS

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