Council and DHB nominations open this week

Nominations for the local body and District Health Board elections open this Friday, 19 July.

The nomination period closes at 12 noon, Friday 16 August, and the electoral officers for Hawke’s Bay’s five Councils and Hawke’s Bay District Health Board urge all prospective candidates not to wait until the last minute to read through the relevant information and complete the forms.

All candidate handbooks, nomination forms, Frequently Asked Questions, and informative videos supplied by Local Government New Zealand are now available on all Council websites, and that of the District Health Board.

Anyone planning to put their name forward for a seat on a Council or the District Health Board also needs to be aware that they must be keeping all receipts for expenses to date from today (12 July), as all expenditure and donations to their campaign must be declared.

Prospective candidates may also like to attend one of the following information sessions/candidate evenings coming up shortly:

- District Health Board - 5pm, Wednesday 17 July at the HBDHB Boardroom, Corporate Office, Hastings, and 5pm, Thursday 18 July in the foyer of the Napier Health Centre, Wellesley Street, Napier

- HB Regional Council - 5.30pm, Tuesday 23 July, HBRC Chambers, Dalton St, Napier

- Napier City Council - 7pm, Wednesday, 24 July, at 7pm, Napier Conference Centre, Napier War Memorial Centre, Marine Parade

- CHB District Council - 7pm, Thursday 25 July, Council Chambers, Ruataniwha St, Waipawa. HBRC’s electoral officer will also be present, to speak to any Regional Council candidates who may attend

- Hastings District Council has already held some lively candidate evenings in April and early July. However, if anyone is thinking of standing and would like to talk to the Electoral Officer, telephone 06 871 5000 and ask for Jackie Evans to make an appointment.

Anyone who will turn 18 by the time of the elections is able to pre-enrol now. They will then be automatically enrolled on their 18th birthday.

Voting opens on 20 September, and closes at noon on Saturday 12 October.

Anyone who has not yet enrolled to vote, or has not yet received an enrolment pack in the mail, still has some time to do something about it. You can find out if you’re eligible to vote, enrol and check your details online at www.vote.nz

Key things to remember:

- 19 July Nominations open for candidates

- 16 August Nominations close at 12 noon, and the electoral rolls close

- 21 August Electoral officers to publicise candidates’ names

- 20-25 September Voting papers delivered to households

- 12 October Voting papers must be at the council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results will be available as soon as possible afterwards.

- 17-23 October Official results declared.

For more information go to:

www.napier.govt.nz

www.hbrc.govt.nz

www.chbdc.govt.nz

www.hastingsdc.govt.nz

www.wairoadc.govt.nz

www.hawkesbay.health.nz