Media release

27th September  2008

Wellingtonians make their vote count

“The decision of Wellingtonians to retain STV (Single Transferable Vote) is a fantastic outcome,” said Wellington City Councillor Iona Pannett.

Ms Pannett said she was thrilled with the “yes” vote to retain STV in the postal ballot held over the last three weeks.  The result was announced this afternoon.

“Under STV mayors must get 50% support to win and almost all votes count.  The problem with the First Past the Post (FPP) system used by Wellington until 2004 is that many of the votes were discarded and mayors were elected with as little as 19% support,” said Ms Pannett

“The $185,000 needed to run the poll could have been better spent.  It was an expensive way of confirming Wellingtonians’ original decision to go with STV,” said Ms Pannett who led the campaign for STV in 2002.

Under the Local Electoral Act, the system must be reviewed by the City Council every six years.  “I hope that Council will learn from this expensive exercise and not waste money on another poll,” said Ms Pannett.

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