By-election confirmed

A by-election will take place on 1 March 2003 following the resignation of Stephen Rosser from the Mt Roskill Community Board on 10 December 2002.

The Local Electoral Act 2001 requires Auckland City Council to conduct a by-election within 82 days of a resignation being received from an elected member.

The by-election is expected to cost about $60,000. The council’s Finance and Corporate Business Committee today recommended that the council approve the unbudgeted expenditure required for the by-election.

The committee chairperson, Councillor Douglas Armstrong, says the council is legally obliged to hold the by-election.

“That said, it is regrettable that the council no longer has the choice of either appointing a new member or conducting a by-election to fill a community board vacancy, as was the case under the previous legislation,” says Councillor Armstrong.

A postal ballot of the 32,350 Mt Roskill community electors will commence on 7 February when ballot papers are delivered. All votes must be returned by midday, Saturday 1 March 2003.

Councillor Armstrong says the Council is also expected to approve an early processing resolution for the by-election. This process allows votes to be electronically captured as they are received and enables prompt release of the result.

The key by-election dates are:

Electoral roll open for inspection, nominations open 13 December 2002 Electoral roll closes, nominations close Noon 10 January 2003 Delivery of voting documents 7 February 2003 By-election day Noon 1 March 2003

More by-election information can be found at the following website: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/byelection

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