2019 Candidate Information Handbook
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Candidate Information Handbook Taranaki Council Regional Taranaki 2019 CANDIDATE June 2019 INFORMATION HANDBOOK TARANAKI REGIONAL COUNCIL LOCAL ELECTIONS Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this handbook is accurate and consistent with the Local Electoral Act 2001. Taranaki Regional Council takes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. It is recommended that candidates obtain a full copy of the Act, which is available online at www.legislation.govt.nz June 2019 Contents Overview 2 Elections 3 Fact Sheet 4 Timetable 6 Electoral principles 7 Electoral legislation 8 Electoral systems 9 Candidate eligibility 10 Nominations 12 Candidate information briefings 17 Campaigning 18 Electoral donations and expenses 20 Council policy on election signs 29 Electoral rolls 32 Voting and special voting 34 Early processing of returned voting documents 35 Scrutineers 36 Results 37 Term of membership 38 Election offences 39 Remuneration 43 Health and safety responsibilities 44 2016 voting document returns 45 2016 election results 48 Maps 49 Pre-election period 53 Letter to appoint scrutineer Return of electoral donations and expenses form Notes 1 Overview This handbook provides information which may be The triennial elections of elected members to the of interest to you as a candidate in the 2019 local Taranaki Regional Council are being conducted by government elections. postal vote concluding on Saturday 12 October 2019. More information specific to the Taranaki Regional The elections will be conducted under the provisions Council’s current work programme and financial of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local position is included in the council’s pre-election Electoral Regulations 2001. Other legislative report, available at www.trc.govt.nz in July 2019. references are found on page 8 of this handbook. Key dates for a candidate Nominations open Friday 19 July 2019 Nominations close Noon, Friday 16 August 2019 Delivery of voting documents From Friday 20 September 2019 Appointment of scrutineers By noon, Friday 11 October 2019 Close of voting Noon, Saturday 12 October 2019 As soon as practicable after close of voting, Progress results available Saturday 12 October 2019 Preliminary results available By noon, Sunday 13 October 2019 Official declaration of results Thursday 17 October 2019 Return of electoral donations & expenses form By Friday 13 December 2019 Contact us Electoral officer: Taranaki Regional Council: Dale Ofsoske, Independent Election Services Ltd 47 Cloten Road, Stratford Level 2, 198 Federal Street, Auckland 1010 Private Bag 713, Stratford 4352 PO Box 5135, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 Phone - 06 765 7127 Phone - 0800 922 822 Website - www.trc.govt.nz Email - [email protected] Website - www.electionservices.co.nz 2 Elections Elections required Elections will also be held for elected members of the New Plymouth District Council, South Taranaki The Taranaki Regional Council is divided into four District Council and Stratford District Council, as well constituencies, these being: as members of Taranaki District Health Board. Resident The election of Taranaki Regional Council councillors Constituency Councillors electors is undertaken by the electoral officers of the region’s constituent territorial authorities - New Plymouth New Plymouth 5 40,625 District Council, South Taranaki District Council and North Taranaki 2 18,062 Stratford District Council. South Taranaki 3 18,150 Stratford 1 6,536 11 83,373 Number of electors as at 31 March 2019 3 Fact Sheet Triennial Election Taranaki Regional Council 12 October 2019 General Nominations Triennial elections for elected members of all local Nominations for the above positions will open on authorities throughout New Zealand are to be Friday 19 July 2019 and close at noon on Friday 16 conducted, by postal vote, on Saturday 12 October August 2019. 2019. Nomination papers will be available during this The elections will be conducted under the provisions period: of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local • New Plymouth District Council’s Civic Centre, Electoral Regulations 2001 and will be undertaken by 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth; Election Services, under contract to Taranaki Regional Council. • South Taranaki District Council’s Administration Building, The elections are undertaken on behalf of the 105-111 Albion Street, Hāwera; Taranaki Regional Council by its three constituent • Stratford District Council’s Administration territorial authorities (New Plymouth District Building, 61-63 Miranda Street, Stratford; Council, South Taranaki District Council and Stratford District Council). In addition to their own elections • by accessing www.trc.govt.nz (mayor, council etc), each constituent territorial • by telephoning the electoral office on authority is required to undertake the Taranaki 0800 922 822. Regional Council and the Taranaki District Health Board elections. To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be: Positions • a New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony); and During 2018, the Taranaki Regional Council undertook a representation arrangements review (review of • enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere constituencies, boundaries, number of elected in New Zealand); and members etc). The final proposal retained the existing • nominated by two electors whose names number of elected members and constituencies, but appear on the electoral roll within the changed the boundaries between the New Plymouth respective area that a candidate is standing and North Taranaki Constituencies. for. Elections will be required for the following positions: Completed nomination papers must be in the hands of the electoral officer or an electoral official at: • Councillors (11) • New Plymouth District Council’s Civic Centre, 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth; • New Plymouth Constituency (5) • South Taranaki District Council’s • North Taranaki Constituency (2) Administration Building, • South Taranaki Constituency (3) 105-111 Albion Street, Hāwera; or • Stratford Constituency (1) • Stratford District Council’s Administration Building, 61-63 Miranda Street, Stratford; by noon on Friday 16 August 2019. 4 Electoral roll Voting period Those eligible to vote in the election are all resident Voting documents will be sent to all eligible electors, electors and non-resident ratepayer electors whose by post, from Friday 20 September 2019. names appear on the electoral roll when it closes on Friday 16 August 2019. The preliminary electoral The voting period is three weeks (Friday 20 roll will be available for public inspection at each September 2019 to noon Saturday 12 October respective Council’s Administration Building from 2019). Electors may post their completed voting Friday 19 July 2019 to Friday 16 August at: documents back to the electoral officer using the • New Plymouth District Council’s Civic Centre, orange pre-paid envelope sent with their voting 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth; document. • South Taranaki District Council’s Polling places for the issuing of special voting Administration Building, documents and for the receiving of completed 105-111 Albion Street, Hāwera; voting documents will be available from Friday 20 • Stratford District Council’s Administration September 2019 to noon Saturday 12 October 2019 Building, 61-63 Miranda Street, Stratford. at: • New Plymouth District Council’s Civic Centre, Resident Roll: All parliamentary electors, including 84 Liardet Street, New Plymouth; those on the Māori Electoral Roll, are automatically enrolled on the Resident Roll, at the address where • South Taranaki District Council’s they live. Administration Building, 105-111 Albion Street, Hāwera; Any alterations to the Resident Roll (e.g. change • Stratford District Council’s Administration of address details, including new postal addresses) Building, 61-63 Miranda Street, Stratford. should be made by: • completing the appropriate form at any post To be counted, all completed voting documents must shop; be in the hands of the electoral officer or an electoral official by noon Saturday 12 October 2019. • phoning 0800 ENROLNOW (0800 367 656); • accessing the Electoral Commission website Progress results will be known early afternoon on on www.elections.org.nz Saturday 12 October 2019 and preliminary results will be known on Sunday morning, 13 October 2019. Ratepayer Roll: If a person is on the parliamentary roll These will be accessible on council’s website: in one area and pays rates on a property in another www.trc.govt.nz area, this person may be eligible to be enrolled on the non-resident ratepayer roll. A firm, company, Contact us corporation or society paying rates on a property may nominate one of its members or officers as a For further information regarding this election, please ratepayer elector (provided the nominated person contact the electoral office: resides outside the area). Ratepayer Roll enrolment forms are available: Dale Ofsoske, Electoral Officer Taranaki Regional Council Electoral system C/o PO Box 5135, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 The first past the post (FPP) electoral system will be Email: [email protected] used for the Taranaki Regional Council, South Taranaki Phone: 0800 922 822 District Council and Stratford District Council. For the New Plymouth District Council and the Taranaki District Health Board, the single transferrable voting (STV) electoral system will be used. 5 Timetable Triennial Election Taranaki Regional Council 12 October 2019 Saturday