The Dunedin City Council is encouraging more community-minded residents to consider standing for their local community board in this year’s local elections.
Nominations for mayor, councillors and community board members are now open, but candidates have less than two weeks to lodge their nomination paperwork before the period closes at midday on Friday 1 August.
There are 36 vacancies for community board members in total – six members on six boards: Mosgiel-Taieri, Strath Taieri, Saddle Hill, Waikouaiti Coast, West Harbour and Otago Peninsula.
Community boards advocate for the needs and aspirations of their communities, providing information and advice to Council on matters affecting their local area and those who live there. They are also allocated funds to distribute for the benefit of their communities.
“We currently have just eight candidates nominated for community board positions throughout the city, and we’re more than halfway through the nomination period,” says Deputy Electoral Officer Robyn Dillon.
“These positions provide the perfect entry point into local politics for community-minded people in Ōtepoti Dunedin who are keen to make a positive difference in their local area. Community boards generally meet around six times per year, and provide a vital link between Council and communities.”
Ms Dillon says the trend in past elections is for the bulk of nominations to come in at the tail-end of the nomination period. However, she strongly advises prospective candidates to get their nominations in sooner rather than later.
“Please don’t leave it until the last minute because we have a new system this year and it can take longer for nominations to be processed if there are any issues with them. Get your nominations in as soon as possible.”
To be eligible to stand for mayor, council or a local community board, candidates must be:
- New Zealand citizens
- aged 18 or over
- enrolled to vote (on the electoral roll)
- nominated by two electors who are enrolled in the Dunedin electorate. If standing for a community board, nominators’ enrolled addresses (on the electoral roll) must be within the same community board area the candidate is standing in.
Nomination paperwork must be emailed or delivered to the Dunedin electoral office, which is in the Plaza Room at the top of the escalator in the Civic Centre, and open during business hours.
For more information, including a Candidate Handbook and nomination forms, please visit www.dunedin.govt.nz/stand. Prospective candidates are also welcome to visit the Dunedin electoral office.
Voting will take place by postal vote from September until midday, Saturday 11 October. It’s easy to check your details or enrol to vote online at vote.nz