An Ohoka 24-year-old is hoping to bring a youth perspective to local decision making. 

Ethan Nicholson is standing for the Oxford-Ohoka Community Board in the Ohoka-Swannanoa sub-division and is thought to be the youngest candidate in this year’s elections in Waimakariri. 

He was encouraged to stand by sitting councillor Niki Mealings. 

‘‘Niki approached me and said they needed more candidates and she thought I should give it a go. 

‘‘I thought about it for a while and realised it was a good opportunity. 

‘‘I think I can offer a new perspective.’’ 

Mr Nicholson has lived most of his life in Ohoka, after moving to the area as a youngster. 

‘‘It is an amazing community, I feel like everybody does know each other and I have worked at the Ohoka Farmers’ Market and I see a lot of familiar faces there.’’ 

He has worked in real estate, is studying marketing and management at university, and enjoys getting to know people. 

Mr Nicholson is up against four other candidates, including Oxford-Ohoka Community Board chairperson Sarah Barkle and sitting member Ray Harpur. 

The other candidates are Wayne Godfrey and Simon Hall. 

There are also five candidates for three positions in the Oxford sub-division, including the board’s deputy chairperson Thomas Robson, who first elected to the board in 2016 as a 21-year-old. 

Other candidates include sitting members Mark Brown and Pete Merrifield, who are up against Garth Free and sitting councillor Tim Fulton. 

Four candidates are vying for two seats at the Waimakariri District Council table in the Oxford-Ohoka ward. 

Sitting councillors Tim Fulton and Niki Mealings are being challenged by Rob Ballantyne and Gordon Malcolm, who are standing under the ‘‘Standing Together for Waimakariri’’ banner. 

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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