Nominations For Local Govt and DHB Candidates Close Soon

Nominations For Local Government and District Health Board Candidates Close Soon

Nominations for candidates wishing to stand in this year’s local authority elections close at 12noon on Friday, 16 August

Electoral Officer Richard Palmer says anyone wishing to stand as a candidate for Hastings District Council, the Hastings District Rural Community Board, Flaxmere Licensing Trust or Hawke’s Bay District Health Board should get their nominations in well before the 16 August deadline.

“Don’t forget that we have to check your nomination to ensure that it is valid so if you leave your nomination to the last minute and there is an error or something lacking you may not have time to correct it before nominations close.” 

“In addition, the recent amendments to the Local Electoral Act have introduced changes to the legislation controlling the elections and there is now a requirement for all documents for the nomination to be submitted together, so if anything is wrong with one of the documents we cannot accept any of them.”

These documents are the nomination form, nomination deposit of $200.00, and the optional candidate profile statement and photo.  The Electoral Officer cannot accept candidate profile statements and photos submitted at a later date, also if your cheque for the deposit is dishonoured the nomination is void.

“We are encouraging anyone who wants to play an active part in helping shape the future of the District to consider standing. Elected members make decisions which reflect the wishes of the Community and impact on everybody’s lives, so it is important that they are people who know what their communities think and who have the trust of the people.”

“Anyone over the age of 18 can stand for election as long as they are a New Zealand citizen and enrolled on the Parliamentary electoral roll.”

The Candidate Information Handbook available on Council’s website has information for prospective candidates to help with completing nominations.  There are two separate nomination forms – one for Hastings District Council/Rural Community Board/Flaxmere Licensing Trust candidates, and one for Hawke’s Bay District Health Board candidates. Nomination forms and the Handbook are available from the Electoral Officer, Hastings District Council Civic Administration Building, 207 Lyndon Road East, Hastings.

The election is by postal voting with voting papers being posted out from 20 September 2013. These must be returned by midday on Election Day, 12 October 2013. 

ENDS

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