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Auckland City Council
Media release
27 November 2009

Council votes not to fill vacant seat

Auckland City Council has decided not to fill the seat left vacant following the resignation of Councillor Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga last month.

The legislation passed by government in preparation for restructuring Auckland specifically provides that there will be no by-election in the period until the creation of the new Auckland Council in November 2010. The two options open to council are to not replace Mr Lotu-Iiga or to nominate some one else to fill the position.

Councillors voted not fill Mr Lotu-Iiga’s seat in the Tamaki-Maungakiekie Ward for a variety of reasons including the fact that area is well represented on local issues by two community boards and that the next election is only ten months away.

Deputy Mayor David Hay pointed out that there would be considerable savings to ratepayers by leaving the seat vacant.
Mr Lotu-Iiga who is also the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie has made a commitment to keep the council informed of issues his constituents living in the ward bring to his attention.

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