Nominations open for Tauranga council by-election

Tenby Powell resigned as mayor on Friday.

Nominations open today for candidates wishing to stand in next year's Tauranga by-election.

The by-election is being held to find a replacement for Tenby Powell, who resigned as mayor on Friday, and for former Otumoetai/Pyes Pa councillor Jako Abrie, who resigned in October.

Electoral Officer Warwick Lampp says candidates have until midday on December 22 to complete the formal nomination process.

'Several people have already announced they are keen to stand for council.

'A healthy democracy relies on participation, so it's great to see this amount of interest at an early stage.”

Also from today, members of the public are officially being encouraged to make sure they are enrolled to vote.

The easiest way is to visit the Electoral Commission's website, where voters can check their enrolment details and confirm which ward they are in.

Former Otumoetai/Pyes Pa councillor Jako Abrie resigned in October.

A ward boundary map and search tool can also be found on the council's website at www.tauranga.govt.nz/elections.

Printed electoral rolls can be viewed at city libraries and the council's 91 Willow St service centre.

People can vote in the by-election only if they are enrolled to vote in Tauranga or pay rates on a property here but live outside it.

The by-election will be conducted by post using the same Single-Transferable Vote (STV) system used in last year's city-wide election.

Any questions about the by-election can be directed to the Electoral Officer on 021 498 517.

Key dates

November 24: Public can enrol to vote / Candidate nominations open

December 22 (midday): Electoral rolls close / Candidate nominations close

January 26: Delivery of voting papers starts / Special voting opens

January 31: Last day for delivery of voting papers

February 17: Election day

February 20: Declaration of final results (estimated date)


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8 comments

Mayoral Candidates

Posted on 24-11-2020 12:18 | By gincat

Current councilors need not apply!


Full Election

Posted on 24-11-2020 14:02 | By Kancho

Why waste time and money on a by election . We should start again with a complete election for all positions as it's only a year to yet another election . Then we can remember those who were the most disruptive , spell checking the report n their competence in a Trumpesk move to deflect the attention of the damning contents of the government appointed report. Bring on a manager to run council until a full Election


@ By gincat

Posted on 24-11-2020 22:30 | By The Caveman

Totally agree with you!!!


Merry Go Round

Posted on 25-11-2020 10:20 | By IguanaEstate

What will we see, the same old cowboys throw their hat in the ring for the 8325725 time. Enter stage left Murray Guy, all roads lead to Baypark.


@ Gincat and Kancho

Posted on 25-11-2020 11:59 | By Yadick

Agree 100% with both of you. Somebody (forgive me, I can't remember who you were) put it beautifully last week when they said, 'it's time to drain the swamp'


Careful.

Posted on 27-11-2020 12:44 | By morepork

It is easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Nobody is more fed up and disillusioned by this Council than I, but I accept that not ALL of them are guilty. Very poor leadership was a major factor... ANYONE (including current members) SHOULD be able to stand and it is wrong to ban them. It is up to US to be much more careful in who we vote for... In Democracy, you may not get the government you wanted, but you certainly get the government you deserve.


This council

Posted on 27-11-2020 18:00 | By Kancho

This council signed off on the Greerton traffic design allowing for millions spent to make Greerton worse off . Long delays hurt shops, travelling through much worse and made going to Greerton less. Traffic delays never seen before. So to me that's reason e much to sack them all. Greerton is a monumental cockup that is never going to be remedied. So that's on them forever


Cumugeon

Posted on 29-11-2020 21:24 | By Old Bloke

I dont have a problem with one Councillor and one Mayor being elected. Its called democracy. The last elected Mayor was the wrong person for the job. Fortunately he resigned and now the voters get a second shot. Lets hope they learned that voting in a ""Salesman"" from out of town with no local body or Gummint experience is not the right choice


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