Meetings for prospective regional councillors

With the official nomination period for this year’s local body elections drawing closer, would-be Northland Regional Councillors are being invited to attend information meetings to learn more about what the job entails.

Malcolm Nicolson, the regional council’s Chief Executive Officer, says a series of six public ‘Prospective Candidate Information Evenings’ will be held from mid-June and into early July in Dargaville, Whangarei, Kerikeri, Mangawhai, Kaikohe and Kaitaia.

“These are non-political, evenings run by council staff and aimed specifically at those interested in representing their local community around the regional council table after the Saturday October 12 elections. Pre-registration is not required and any member of the public interested in attending a meeting is most welcome to do so on the night.”

An official month-long nomination period for councillors will start sometime in the latter half of July, however, the exact date has yet to be determined due to changes to the Local Electoral Act which are currently making their way through the Parliamentary process.

Mr Nicolson says the regional council’s information evenings should not be confused with ‘Meet the Candidate’ type events ratepayer groups and others run in the lead up to the elections to introduce current or aspiring local body politicians to the public.

He says as well as learning about the process and rules involved in being nominated – and running – for election, the NRC meetings will include details about the responsibilities, work and remuneration a regional councillor role entails.

“We’ll also be providing an outline of council’s recent representation review and the effects and changes that’ll mean for candidates and voters at this year’s election.”

Changes recently signed off by the Local Government Commission mean this year Northlanders will vote for nine regional councillors (one more than currently elected) representing seven, smaller constituencies across the region. Previously voters had chosen eight councillors elected from just three wards based on district council boundaries.

Further information about the elections is available from the regional council’s website via: www.nrc.govt.nz/elections