People interested in standing as a candidate in October’s local body elections are being urged to get their name in early, and not leave it too late to submit their nomination forms.
Potential candidates should complete their forms well before the deadline of midday on Friday 1 August. This will ensure there is enough time for information to be checked and possible technical issues can be resolved.
Council’s website provides an extensive collection of resources and information for candidates and nominators, including:
- The Candidate Information Handbook – an in-depth guide of the ‘do’s and don’ts’ for candidates and a must-read for anybody that is considering standing.
- Council’s Pre-Election Report – which provides information and promotes discussion around the issues facing council.
- A recording of the Candidates Information Evening (also available on our Youtube channel), held on Wednesday 9 July at the South Otago Town and Country Club.
Anyone standing for local body elections must be a New Zealand citizen, over 18 years old and be on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll. They must also be nominated by two people who are enrolled on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll in the area they intend to stand in.
Roles to be filled in the Clutha District Council in the October local elections are:
- Mayor
- Councillors (9)
- Balclutha Ward (2)
- Milton Ward (1)
- Bruce-Waihola Ward (1)
- Catlins Ward (1)
- Clinton-Clydevale Ward (1)
- Kaitangata-Matau Ward (1)
- Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward (1)
- West Otago Ward (1)
- Community Board members (12)
- Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board (6)
- West Otago Community Board (6)
- Clutha Licensing Trust members (5)
If you are a thinking about standing, please complete and submit your nominations as soon as possible. This can be done online via the Election Services online portal once you have created an online profile.
Hardcopy nomination forms are also available for download online, or during normal business hours from council’s Rosebank office in Balclutha, the Clutha isite Visitor Information Centre, or any of our local Community Libraries. Staff are on hand and ready to provide guidance and advice to those thinking of standing.
It has been brought to Council’s attention that a list of other councils is featured on the ‘Electionz’ website with nomination lists, and questions have been raised as to why Clutha does not feature on this list. Council would like to assure those concerned that Clutha District Council’s election provider is Independent Election Services (electionservices.co.nz), not Electionz.com.
A public list of candidates who have completed their nominations is available on CDC’s website. This list is updated daily and is an official record which is exported directly from the Election Services online portal, overseen by Clutha District Council’s Electoral Officer, Dale Ofsoske.
Anybody who is thinking of standing and has questions or concerns is encouraged to contact Council to discuss further, and should do so well before the closing date for nominations at 12pm noon on Friday, 1 August. Alternatively, you can contact Dale Ofsoske (Electoral Officer, Clutha District Council) on 0800 922 822 or by email: dale@electionservices.co.nz.
Communities interested in hosting a ‘meet the candidate’ event can find contact details of candidates who have made their details public from Wednesday 6 August, when the final list of candidates is expected to be available. If you are hosting an event for all mayoral, councillor or community board candidates please contact Council to discuss promoting it on our website.
