CANDIDATE INFORMATION EVENING 19 July 2016
Our speakers • Tony Whittaker – Acting Chief Executive – General Manager Strategy & Support • Dale Ofsoske – Electoral Officer • Sue Duignan – General Manager Customer Support • Peter Harris & Ian McLennan – Former Mayor and Councillor
Housekeeping • Emergency exits • Mobile phones (off please) • Toilets • Handouts • Questions • Coffee/tea to follow
Programme • Council overview • Electoral process • What happens if elected • Perspectives from a former Mayor and a former Councillor
Council Overview - Tony Whittaker
Who are we? • We are a growing district • We are home to 69,900 people • Waikato district spans 452,000 hectares (90% of the size of Auckland) • $150 million of revenue • $1.6 billion of assets
Who are we?
Governance Structure
Our approach 1. Support targeted growth 2. Maintain existing assets 3. Modernise infrastructure where it is prudent to do so 4. Do more within existing budgets 5. Affordability
We provide, operate or maintain • Libraries • Sports parks • Public toilets Drinking water • • Refuse & recycling collections • Water reservoirs • Roads – sealed and unsealed • Water treatment plants • Footpaths • Cemeteries • Neighbourhood reserves • Dog exercise areas • Swimming pools Animal shelters • • Community halls • Skate parks
Electoral Process - Dale Ofsoske
General information • Waikato District Council has 45,280 voters • Postal vote • Election day Saturday 8 October • Two electoral systems used – FPP and STV • Candidate names in alphabetical order
Key election dates Date Activity Friday 15 July Nominations open Friday 12 August Nominations close Friday 16 September to Delivery of voting documents Wednesday 21 September Saturday 8 October Election day, preliminary results after noon Thursday 13 October Declaration of results Saturday 16 October Public notice of declaration Sunday 17 October Elected members come into office
Elections required Mayor (elected ‘at large’) • The following positions: • • Community Board Members (30) • Councillors (13) from 10 wards Mayor (elected ‘at large’) • from 5 community boards Awaroa ki Tuakau Ward (2) • Councillor (8) • • Eureka Ward (1) • Huntly Community (6) Coromandel-Colville Ward (1) • • Hukanui-Waerenga Ward (1) • Ngaruawahia Community (6) Mercury Bay Ward (2) • • Huntly Ward (2) Onewhero-Tuakau Community (6) • South Eastern Ward (2) • • Newcastle Ward (1) Thames Ward (3) • Raglan Community (6) • • Ngaruawahia Ward (2) • Taupiri Community (6) • Onewhero-Te Akau Ward (1) • Raglan Ward (1) Tamahere Ward (1) • • Whangamarino Ward (1)
Elections required In addition – • either Waikato District Health Board members (7 members elected ‘at large’) • or Counties Manukau District Health Board members (7 members elected ‘at large’) • Waikato Regional Council members • either 2 members from the Waikato General Constituency or 1 member from the Ngaa Hau e Wha Maaori Constituency • • Te Kauwhata Licensing Trust (6) from Te Kauwhata area
Electoral systems Two electoral systems used: • First Past the Post (FPP) – Vote by ticking candidates names – Candidates with highest number votes wins – Used for Waikato District Council, Waikato Regional Council and Te Kauwhata Licensing Trust • Single Transferable Voting (STV) • Form of preferential voting • Vote by ranking candidate names in order of preference • Used for Waikato District Health Board and Counties Manukau District Health Board
Electoral rolls • Two electoral rolls available: • Resident electoral roll • New Zealand citizen or permanent resident Aged 18 or over • • Resided continuously in New Zealand for one year or more Resided at an address for one month or more • • Total 45,280 resident electors (7 July 2016)
Electoral rolls • Ratepayer electoral roll • For non-resident electors • Updated every three years • By application, not automatic • 41 ratepayer electors (7 July 2016)
Candidate qualifications • Candidates for district & regional councils: • New Zealand citizen • Over the age of 18 • Enrolled on the parliamentary electoral roll (anywhere) • Can stand for one ward or constituency only • Cannot stand for both constituent district council or regional council
Candidate qualifications • Elected members (or spouses) cannot have a contract with Waikato District Council over $25,000 unless approval is obtained from the Office of the Auditor-General • Any employee of Waikato District Council who is elected to Council must resign as employee before taking up position – not applicable for an elected community board member
Nomination process • Nominations now open with papers available from: Ngaruawahia Head Office • • Huntly Office and Library Raglan Office and Library • • Te Kauwhata Library • Tuakau Office and Library • www.votewaikato.co.nz • Phoning 0800 922 822 • Get one here tonight
Nomination process • Cannot nominate yourself • Need to be nominated by two nominators from area standing • $200 (including GST) nomination deposit (most are refunded) • 150 word candidate profile statement • Recent passport-size colour photo
Nomination process • Candidates are able to have affiliation or independent or leave blank • Unacceptable affiliations (see page 16) • Nomination close noon, Friday 12 August (sharp) • Return nominations to Council offices/libraries • Please also include: • Statement on principal place of residence • Statement on all positions standing for
Campaigning • Campaigning can occur anytime, including election day • Council’s policy on election hoardings • Can go up 8 August • Must be removed by midnight 7 October • All election advertising must be authorised • Candidates or their agents must not collect voting documents from electors • Be mindful of election offences (page 44)
Candidate expenditure Local government area population Expenditure limit Up to 4999 $3500 • All positions 5000-9999 $7000 have 10,000-19,999 $14,000 candidate 20,000-39,999 $20,000 election 40,000-59,000 $30,000 expenditure 60,000-79,999 $40,000 limits based 80,000-99,999 $50,000 on 100,000-149,000 $55,000 population of 150,000-249,999 $60,000 area 250,000-999,999 $70,000 1,000,000 or more $100,000 *plus 50c per elector Expenditure limits are inclusive of GST
Candidate expenditure Ward Population $ Limit Awaroa ki Tuakau 11,600 $14,000 Eureka 5,430 $7,000 Hukanui-Waerenga 5,520 $7,000 Huntly 9,790 $7,000 Newcastle 5,450 $7,000 Ngaruawahia 9,770 $7,000 Onewhero-Te Akau 5,190 $7,000 Raglan 5,510 $7,000 Tamahere 5,390 $7,000 Whangamarino 5,850 $7,000
Candidate expenditure Community Board Population $ Limit Huntly 7,730 $7,000 Ngaruawahia 7,560 $7,000 Onewhero-Tuakau 9,820 $7,000 Raglan 4,160 $3,500 Taupiri 480 $3,500
Candidate expenditure • Expenditure to be GST inclusive • Electoral expenses and electoral donation form must be completed • Forms to be returned by Friday 9 December (enforced) • Forms available for public inspection • Care to ensure accurate (declaration)
Scrutineers • Candidates may appoint scrutineers • Can observe: • Roll scrutiny process (during voting period) • Counting of votes (after close of voting) • Cannot observe early processing (during voting period) • Processing centre in Auckland • Must be aged over 18 years • Scrutineer appointment before noon Friday 7 October
Results • Voting closes noon Saturday 8 October • Progress results • 95% votes counted, excludes votes lodged at council offices on election morning • All candidates emailed, media advised • Preliminary results (100% votes counted) later in evening • All results available on www.votewaikato.co.nz • Final results Thursday 13 October 2016 • Declaration of results in newspapers 15 October 2016 • Elected members take office day after public notice
Resources • Candidate Information Handbook • Talk to presenter or council officer • www.votewaikato.co.nz • Electoral legislation www.legislation.govt.nz • Attend a council meeting • Read agenda and minutes that are available on line www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz
What happens if elected? - Sue Duignan
What happens after election day? • Informal get together • Swearing in ceremony – first council meeting • Induction • Training on delegated authority and processes
Role of a councillor • Represent the interests of the district, its residents and ratepayers • Develop and adopt Council policy • Employ the Chief Executive • Monitor Council’s performance • Manage Council resources prudently
Time expectations of councillors • Lots of reading, e.g. agendas and papers for all meetings • Approximately 5-6 council and/or committee meetings each month • Approximately 3 workshops each month • Other meetings: – hearings, deliberations, district licensing committee • To be available to and for constituents
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