Voter turnout up for Bay councils

The number of people voting in local government elections in the Bay of Plenty has increased this year over voter numbers in 2007.

Returns, excluding special votes, were mostly up for councils in the region, other than Tauranga City and Western Bay, which both had a drop in voter numbers.

Whakatāne District Council voter numbers rose from 47.7 percent to 55.68 percent and Ōpōtiki District Council from 42.8 percent to 53.85 percent of voters. Kawerau District Council votes rose slightly from 46.9 percent to 48.46 percent and Taupō District Council from 50.26 percent to 53.09 percent. In 2004 the voter turnout for Taupō was 51.43 percent.

Voter numbers dropped for Tauranga City Council from 46.36 percent to 42.39 percent - below the 2004 voter turnout of 44.18 percent. Western Bay District Council dropped from 37.4 percent to 36.85 percent. No figures were available for Rotorua District Council.

Returning Officer for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Cindy Butt said it was healthy to see good increases in voter numbers in some areas, which showed a heightened interest in local government activities.

“However voter numbers in all areas still represent barely half the eligible voters, and in some areas even less than that.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media