For Immediate Release  
 
October 3. 2007

Returns slow for local body elections

Returns for local government and district health board elections are slow compared with 2007, according to electionz.com, who are running 36 of the 73 elections being held throughout New Zealand.
 
While the sluggish returns are not across the board, electionz.com Managing Director, Steve Kilpatrick, said there was a definite trend.
 
“Compared with the same stage in 2004, returns are ahead in only five of the 36 councils (Chatham Islands has one vote compared with no votes in 2004) we are running and while it may only be a couple of percentage points in each case, it amounts to a torrent of votes likely to pour in during the last few days.
 
“As of last night we had processed 199,000 voting papers which is about a third of what we expect yet we are half way through from a time perspective.
 
“Receiving a flood at the end is not a problem for us to handle, but it will delay the final announcement of some results. It is important that everyone does not leave it to the last minute,” he said.
 
Waimakariri District Council was the best performer compared with 2004 being three percentage points of votes counted ahead of last time, while Otorohanga was 11 percentage points behind 2004.
 
electionz.com will have progress totals available for all electorates on the night of October 13 and in some cases final results.
 
“However, where we have not received all the voting papers to process, it will be up to each individual electoral officer to decide if they want to release progress figures or wait until the preliminary results are finalised. For some areas this could take days,” he said.
 
The number of votes processed for each of the 36 electorates is updated every evening and posted on www.electionz.com web site.
 
After processing on October 2 the percentage of returns to date compared with 2004 were: Carterton District Council 23 v 22, Chatham Islands Council 1 v 0, Christchurch City Council 15 v 17, Clutha DC 25 v 25, Dunedin CC 18 v 21, Hastings DC 15 v 20, Hauraki DC 19 v 25, Horowhenua DC 22 v 28, Hurunui DC 22 v 29, Hutt CC 13 v 16, Kaikoura DC 22 v 26, Mackenzie DC 27 v 32, Marlborough DC 18 v 25, Masterton DC 23 v 23, Manawatu DC 18 v 20, Matamata-Piako DC 18 v 20, Napier CC 15 v 21, Otorohanga DC 8 v 19, Palmerston North CC 16 v 23, Porirua CC 13 v 16, Rangitikei DC 22 v 27, Rotorua DC 17 v 20, Ruapehu DC 17 v 17, Selwyn DC 18 v 16, Southland DC 22 v 27, South Wairarapa DC 26 v 28, Tararua DC 22 v 29, Taupo DC 18 v 23, Tauranga CC 14 v 18, Timaru DC 30 v 28, Upper Hutt CC 15 v 17, Waimakariri DC 18 v 15, Waipa DC 13 v 20, Waitakere CC 8 v 11, Waitaki DC 30 v 33, Waitomo DC 15 v 23.

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