20 March 2014

Call for nominations to elect Pacific candidates

Pacific people can help make a difference for their communities by nominating candidates to stand for election to Wellington City Council’s Pacific Advisory Group.

The group represents the views of Pacific people, helps them to understand and take part in the Council’s decision-making, advises the Council on policy and planning, as well as the challenges and issues facing Pacific people.

Nominations for the three-yearly election open next Tuesday 25 March, close at 12 noon on Monday 7 April, and are sought from seven Pacific nation groups – Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu.

To be eligible to stand for election, candidates must be nominated to represent the Pacific Island of their descent, live in the Wellington City Council area and be enrolled on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll. Candidates cannot nominate themselves for election.

People who want to nominate candidates must be of the same Pacific Island descent as the candidate they nominate, be enrolled on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll and live in the Wellington City Council area.

The Council’s electoral officer, Charlie Inggs, suggests people look for candidates who have governance experience, an excellent understanding of Pacific communities and networks, and a commitment to the development of Pacific people in Wellington.

Voting in the elections will take place on Monday 14 April at 6.45pm (6pm for refreshments) in the Lion Harbourview Lounge, Michael Fowler Centre.

Voters must be of Pacific Island descent, be enrolled on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll and live in the Wellington City Council area. They can only vote for one nation’s representatives even if they have ancestry from more than one Pacific Island nation and even if they hold dual (or more) passports.

For a definition of Wellington City boundaries go to www.Wellington.govt.nz/maps

Nomination forms will be available to download from Tuesday 25 March at www.Wellington.govt.nz/pacificelections

For any enquiries about nominations, email the Pacific Election Coordinator onpagelections@wcc.govt.nz

ENDS

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