Nominations for Hastings District Council local body elections now open

Nominations for the local body elections opened on Friday, 15 July.  

For the 2022 Hastings District Council local body elections, nominations will be accepted for the positions of: Mayor; twelve general ward councillors (representing Flaxmere (1), Hastings-Havelock North (7), Heretaunga (2), Kahurānaki (1), and Mōhaka (1) wards); three councillors for the Takitimu Māori Ward; four rural community board members (representing Kaweka (1), Maraekākaho (1), Poukawa (1) and Tūtira (1) subdivisions);  and six Flaxmere Licencing Trust members.

You do not need to reside in the area (e.g. district, ward or community board) that you are standing for. Any eligible person is able to stand for Māori or general wards – people do not need to live in the Māori or general ward they are being nominated for.

The nomination period closes at 12 noon, Friday 12 August, and prospective candidates are urged not to wait until the last minute to read through the relevant information and complete the forms.

The notice of the 2022 Triennial Local Authority Elections, candidate handbook, nomination forms, pre-election report and electoral donations and expenses form can be found on the Hastings District Council website www.hastings/elections or by request to the electoral officer.

Anyone who will turn 18 by the time of the elections is able to pre-enrol now. They will then be automatically enrolled on their 18^th birthday. Voting opens on Friday 16 September, and closes at noon on Saturday 8 October. If you are returning your voting paper by mail, you must post your voting paper in a NZ Post Box before Tuesday, 5 October to reach the electoral officer before the close of voting.

Anyone who has not yet enrolled to vote, or has not yet received an enrolment pack in the mail, still has some time to do something about it. You can find out if you’re eligible to vote, enrol and check your details online at www.vote.nz.

Voters on the general roll will be able to vote for the mayor and candidate/s for the general ward in which they reside/are enrolled to vote. Voters on the Hastings District Council general roll will also be able to vote for candidates for the HB Regional Council general constituencies: either 3 candidates for the Heretaunga-Hastings Constituency or 1 candidate for the Ngaruroro Constituency.

Voters on the Māori roll will be able to vote for the mayor and 3 candidates for the Takitimu ward.  Voters on the Hastings District Council Māori roll will also be able to vote for candidates for the HB Regional Council Māori constituencies: either 1 candidate for the Māui ki te Raki Māori Constituency or 1 candidate for the Māui ki te Tonga Māori Constituency.

Key things to remember:

• 15 July - Nominations open for candidates.
• 12 August - Nominations close at 12 noon, and the electoral rolls close.
• 17 August - Electoral officers to publicise candidates’ names.
• 16-21 September - Voting papers delivered to households.
• 8 October - Voting papers must be at the council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results will be available as soon as possible afterwards.
• 14-19 - October - Official results declared.

3 August 2022

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