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Making a stand made easy A candidate’s guide to local government

Welcome

Lawrence Yule President, Local Government

I am pleased that you are considering Democracy only works when citizens are standing for election. Local government prepared to stand up and contribute to the provides for the well-being of communities public good and, to be effective, elected and leads, nurtures and responds members need to reflect the diversity of to community views. A key principle our communities. underpinning local democracy is that To stand for office you simply need to be decision-making power should rest as a New Zealand citizen and enrolled on close as possible to the communities the Parliamentary electoral roll, willing to affected by the decisions made. participate and committed to serving your It’s also important councils represent local community. Elected members take an their communities and operate oath to faithfully, impartially and according effectively and efficiently. to their best skill and judgement, execute and perform their duties in the interests of Local Government New Zealand believes the community, city, district or region. that local democracy is about: • having the right mix of people, The role of an elected member can be elected locally, to best represent demanding at times, but it is also highly each community; rewarding. I hope this publication gives • ensuring services are provided to you valuable information to help you the community in the best way on your way. If you would like more possible; information please check out our website • taking a collective approach to at www.lgnz.co.nz or speak to the electoral meeting community needs; and officer of the council in the area you want • creating a sense of local identity to stand in. and place. Good luck.

1 What is local government?

Territorial authorities, regional The territorial authorities’ functions include: councils and their functions • community well-being and development; Local government provides communities • environmental health and safety with a wide range of services and facilities (including building control, civil which contribute significantly to quality of defence, and environmental health life. We often associate councils with the matters); roads, rates and rubbish – but councils • infrastructure (roading and transport, do much more. They play a vital role in sewerage, water/stormwater); enabling local communities to grow • recreation and culture; and and develop. • resource management, including land Councils plan for the future of their use planning and development control. communities, they determine what There are 11 regional councils which developments and activities are manage the natural resources of an area. permissible and regulate activities such This includes: as subdivisions, housing developments, • biosecurity control (including pest business activities, and animal and control and noxious plants); environmental protection. Territorial • resource management (quality of water, authorities and regional councils have soil, coastal planning); different functions and responsibilities. • flood and river management; Councils’ primary source of funding comes • civil defence (natural disasters, marine from rates. Rates fund around 60 per cent oil spill); and of all council activities. • regional transport planning and There are 78 councils in New Zealand, passenger transport services. 67 of which are territorial authorities. Six territorial authorities are known The territorial authorities include 12 city as “unitary authorities”, as they have councils, and 55 district councils (six of the responsibilities of both territorial which are unitary authorities). authorities and regional councils. The unitary councils are Council, Nelson City Council, Council, Marlborough District Council , Council and the Council.

Councils have the ability, following Councils’ primary source of consultation, to transfer functions funding is rates. between regional councils and territorial authorities, so which council does what may vary from place to place.

2 Council responsibilities A council also must: • ensure that the services provided are Councils are required to give effect to their managed efficiently and effectively; purpose, which is to: • exercise community leadership; • enable democratic local decision- • manage, protect, develop, restore, making and action by, and on behalf of, enhance and conserve the environment; communities; and • account for and manage assets for • meet the current and future needs of which it is responsible; communities for good quality local • facilitate involvement of councillors, infrastructure; local public services; and members of the public, users of performance of regulatory functions facilities and services and council staff in a way that is most cost-effective for in the development, improvement and households and businesses. co-ordination of local government; • raise funds for local purposes by When performing its role a council way of rates, charges and fees and must have regard to the contribution investments, loans and grants; the following core services make to its • keep the local community informed communities: about its activities; • network infrastructure; • ensure that in the exercise of its • public transport services; regulatory functions it acts without • solid waste collection and disposal; bias; and • the avoidance or mitigation of natural • act as a responsible employer. hazards; and • libraries, museums, reserves, recreational facilities; and other community infrastructure.

3 What is governance? Many territorial authorities have community boards. Community boards exist to Governance, in a council sense, involves make sure that a community’s interests providing leadership for the good of are being adequately represented and the community. It is about balancing to bring decision-making closer to the views, resources and needs and citizens themselves (depending on the making decisions that are best for the functions and responsibilities delegated community. It is not about implementing to them by the council). decisions – that is the responsibility has 21 local boards that provide a similar of council management and staff. function but with greater decision- Councils have two major governance roles: making powers than community boards • being the governing body for the – including not having to have their council organisation; and decisions endorsed by the Council. • a bylaw-making and regulatory role. The key governance responsibilities of Who makes decisions? councils are to: Elected members are responsible for • connect with the community; making decisions on matters such as • set policies; and the services the council will provide, the • monitor and review the performance of standard they are provided to, how they the organisation. will be paid for and what bylaws need to be made. Councils have a chief executive Council structures and other staff to provide advice and Local authorities, other than the new implement these decisions. Most decisions Auckland Council, are governed by the are made in formally constituted meetings council, also known as “the committee or made under delegation by staff. of the whole.”

A council has the discretion to appoint any standing committee, special committee or subcommittee it considers appropriate. Standing committees (or permanent committees) are responsible for much of the work the council does. They are responsible for a council’s regulatory services, planning, recreation and safety, as well as promoting economic development, although some councils now operate without committees.

4 Is the public entitled to attend Council roles council meetings? There are a number of clearly defi ned roles Absolutely. The public is entitled to within council: attend meetings of councils and council • mayors and regional council committees, local boards and community chairpersons; boards. Public access to meetings ensures • deputy mayors and deputy transparency and accountability as well as chairpersons; providing a mechanism for the community • committee and subcommittee to give direct feedback to the council. members; • committee chairpersons; Councils, local boards and community • councillors; boards do have the right to discuss some • local board chairpersons; matters in private such as matters of • local board members; individual privacy or commercial sensitivity. • Community board chairpersons; and They may also elect to hold workshops to • Community board members. debate and fi nd out more about an issue and these are usually held in private.

The Local Government Offi cial Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA) makes offi cial information pertaining to local government available, unless there is a valid reason for withholding it.

The public is entitled to attend meetings of councils and council committees, local boards and community boards.

5 What roles do elected members fulfil?

Mayor presiding member at council meetings and responsibility for ensuring meetings The role of mayor is important as the are conducted in an orderly manner. ceremonial head of the council providing leadership to other elected members and The chairperson advocates on behalf of the organisation. The job is varied, involves the regional community by promoting and long hours, and a wide range of duties representing its interests and providing such as chairing meetings, taking a public leadership and feedback to fellow elected stand on local issues and being available members. In addition to these roles the to constituents. The size of the job differs chairperson also fulfils the responsibilities of depending on the size of the district, city a Justice of the Peace (while holding office). or region and the size of the council itself. The mayor is elected at large and has the Councillor same responsibilities as other members of council in addition to his/her responsibility The role of councillor can, at times, be to chair council meetings. A mayor might very demanding. You will have to balance also have a casting vote. a number of competing interests and wear a number of hats, as councillors One of the most challenging aspects can be required to act simultaneously as of being mayor is ensuring the orderly community leaders, representatives and conduct of business during council community board members. meetings. By keeping order and providing sound leadership elected members help For the three year term councillors need ensure the council decision-making process to juggle work, the community’s demands, works at its best. The mayor is often the their own priorities, the policies of their spokesperson for the council as well. political team (if they have one) and the challenges facing their council. In addition to these roles, the mayor also fulfils the responsibilities of a Justice of the Being a councillor is a very public role. Peace (while holding office). Whenever councillors appear in public, even though it may not be in an official capacity, they are usually regarded as a Chairperson of regional council “councillor” and judged accordingly. This The chairperson is elected by councillors at is not a 9 to 5 job. the regional council’s first meeting following The role and responsibilities of a councillor the local elections. The chairperson fall into two main categories: shares the same responsibilities as other • being a member of the governing body members of the council but must also chair of the council; and council meetings and may have a casting • being an elected representative of vote. In addition to this the chairperson the community. has a number of other roles, including, the ceremonial head of the council, the

6 Local board members Community board members Established under the governance Many councils have community boards, arrangements for Auckland, local boards which are elected in tandem with the have a significant and wide‑ranging election of the mayor and councillors. The role. They make decisions on a range of role of community board members will vary local government matters at the local depending on the level of responsibility level, provide local leadership and build delegated to them by their parent council. strong local communities. Local Boards At the least community boards make will provide important local input into recommendations to councils on policies, region‑wide strategies and plans. bylaws, and strategies reflecting the views of the communities they represent. Local boards also have an important role in the Auckland Council’s planning The primary role of a community board process. Every three years local boards member is to represent and advocate prepare a plan that informs the Auckland for the interests of their communities, Council’s Long Term Plan. Based on its liaise with community organisations and local board plan each board negotiates, government departments and maintain annually, an agreement with the an overview of the local services provided governing body on the delivery and by the council. Community boards can funding of services in the local area. also make written and oral submissions to council on various issues.

The primary role of a community board member is to represent and advocate for the interests of their communities.

7 What are the responsibilities of Representing the community an elected member? As an elected representative you are required to: Governance • represent the interests of the residents As a member of the governing body you and ratepayers; are required to participate in the decision- • provide leadership and guidance to the making processes that guide and govern community; the affairs of the council. This includes: • facilitate communication between the • establishing a policy framework; council and the community; and • deciding on the fi nancial resources to • promote the overall interests of the be raised to deliver your programme; council to external stakeholders. • ensuring council is fulfi lling its regulatory functions in an appropriate manner; An elected member may be concerned • adopting a Long Term Plan to fulfi l with a wide range of issues, such as the statutory responsibilities and aimed at right level of investment in community fulfi lling community expectations; and infrastructure, the provision of community • regularly reviewing the council’s services, initiatives to enhance community performance. safety and decisions to protect important aspects of the environment. As a member of an Auckland local board you are required to participate in You will often be expected to speak on decision-making processes that guide and behalf of individuals and organisations govern the affairs of the council at the local in your community and this may include level. This includes: people who didn’t vote for you. You won’t • preparing, every three years, a local be able to please all the people all of the board plan that will inform Auckland time. This is because you will often be Council’s Long Term Plan; making decisions that take into account • negotiating, annually, an agreement the wider context, such as the needs of with the governing body on the delivery future generations (and this may not please and funding of services in the local area, everyone in your community). which forms part of the Annual Plan; What is important is that you, as an • taking oversight of local services and elected member, take steps to identify and activities; understand the needs and aspirations of • providing local input into region-wide people in the community and explain to strategies and plans; them the reasons for decisions made by • making decisions on local non-regulatory the council. activities; • developing and proposing local bylaws; and • exercising responsibilities, including regulatory responsibilities, under delegation from the governing body. 8 Political accountability plan sets out the council’s vision and Local government is independent of the steps it plans to take over the next central government and not accountable 10 years to achieve it. In preparing the to the Minister of Local Government, plan elected members face making although the Minister has recently been trade-offs between meeting today’s given a number of new intervention needs and those of future generations. powers. Instead elected members Finding a balance are accountable to their communities Generally elected members hold particular for the decisions they make and the views on certain issues and often campaign way in which they make them. on them. It is these views that are Communities hold elected members endorsed by the community at election to account by voting every three years time. However, after the election, elected and by participating in consultation members are required to recognise and opportunities as required by the law. consider the views of all residents and Parliamentary offi cers, such as the ratepayers in their council, Local Board Ombudsman and the Auditor-General, or Community Board area when they work to ensure that councils operate make decisions. In making decisions they in an open and transparent manner. must have an open mind with no bias.

Leadership Successful elected members balance Elected members are expected to show the mandate provided by their leadership in order for their communities electors with the need to make to be successful and thrive. Local decisions on behalf of the whole government legislation encourages community and future generations. councils to focus on outcomes and councils are encouraged to exercise leadership and work with other agencies in order to achieve their outcomes.

Being an effective leader requires effective communication skills and an ability to work in a team. This means sharing your vision with your fellow elected members in order to gain their support. Remember, successful governing requires a team and your effectiveness depends on your ability to take others with you.

An important leadership task is the preparation and adoption of the council’s Long Term Plan every three years. This

9 Day-to-day life How much does an elected Life as an elected member is largely member get paid? dictated by the frequency of, and Elected members receive salaries that vary preparation for, meetings. At times the depending on the size of each council. sheer volume of business papers may The Remuneration Authority determines seem daunting. remuneration levels for each elected member. Some expenses, such as mileage, Although the time required attending are also paid. meetings may only occupy a few hours elected members spend much more time preparing for those meetings. In addition, there are always informal duties such as interviewing constituents, talking to the media, attending functions and speaking engagements, as well as managing the rest of their lives.

It is essential that people in the community have an opportunity to contribute their views and ideas to council discussions. Elected members are expected to be accessible and will spend a lot of time meeting with community representatives. Even more time will be spent reading and responding to correspondence from local citizens and groups. Some of the work may impact on an elected member’s personal or family life, such as phone calls at odd hours and meetings after hours.

Elected members are expected to be accessible to everyone in their communities.

10 How much time is involved in The work of community board members being an elected member? will also vary according to the size and population of their community The time commitments vary markedly and the range of delegated functions depending on the position you are elected they are responsible for. Community to. Many mayors fi nd that the commitment board chairpersons can expect to is a fulltime one. Most councils have work up to 20 hours a week while monthly meeting cycles, but elected community board members might members are usually placed on council work up to 10 hours a week. committees. The amount of time per week that an elected member spends on council Elected members are expected to duties will depend on the number of be accessible to all members of their responsibilities they have in their role and communities and should expect to the size of the council. spend a lot of time meeting with local organisations, such as neighbourhood The amount of time per week that a local associations and business organisations. board member, in Auckland, spends on local board duties will also depend on the responsibilities they have in their role. Local board chairs may have to offi ciate at civic functions, such as citizenship ceremonies as well as other local board duties. Local boards have regular meetings and may choose to set up local board committees.

11 The skills and qualities of effective elected members

Local Government New Zealand provides Relationship building: Productive opportunities for elected members’ relationships are so-called because professional development through its they produce results. Be pragmatic and KnowHow programme of workshops. strategic about networking to achieve Over the years, KnowHow’s workshop trainers outcomes. Consider in advance the kinds have worked with hundreds of elected of people you want or need to work members dealing with situations that cover with, the information or power they hold, the full gambit of issues, personality types the values they represent, the skills they and decision-making processes. From have and who else they could give you experience, they have identified the skills and access to. Everyone can benefit from qualities most needed to make a positive smarter networking. It may mean building impact as an elected member. Here is a relationships with people outside your usual distilled version. set and spending more time with people who may have points of view quite different Skills from your own. Make a genuine attempt Time Management: Time is your single at greater understanding. Put immediate most important resource and elected arguments aside, listen with respect, ask members are continually up against it. For questions and protect other people’s your role as an elected member to sit well confidence. Be prepared to share some of with your personal life and leave any time your own knowledge and perspective in for family, friends and recreation, you’ll exchange for information or advice given. need to be good at prioritising. Basically, your time allocations should reflect your Influencing and negotiating: Most people priorities. You may need to make some vote with their hearts as well as their heads hard calls about what you devote you – we support things that feel right on an time and attention to. Start with the big instinctive, emotional “gut level” as much as picture. Make lists, delegate the small stuff a rational one. To win hearts and minds and and ensure you set aside regular time for get things done, you need to promote trust reading around policy issues. Planning – a commodity that has to be demonstrated ahead is essential. before it is earned. Establishing a track record by honouring promises and commitments Listening: Listening is a much-undervalued is obviously vital. Another simple way to skill. Try listening more carefully, giving establish trust is showing willingness to be speakers space, and watching their faces a team player. It’s easier to sell your idea to and body language. People generally find people who feel you have their interests at being heard empowering. It’s also worth heart as well as your own. remembering that sometimes the truth lies in what is not said, and questions that Relations with the media: In a public are side-stepped, as much as it does in role it’s highly likely you will need to work what is conveyed openly and obviously. Try with the media at some stage. Preparing rephrasing the same question another way well to meet the media can be daunting 12 if the answer is unclear or unconvincing. and time consuming, however you’ll go The skills and qualities of effective elected members

unprepared at your peril! Think of the community. Your mandate is to take the media as an opportunity to put your point interests of the “whole” community into of view across. Remember, their role is to account, to reflect the wishes of most, rather get a story – often the more contentious than a sole group or special interest faction. the better – so be prepared to handle Councillors should always listen carefully to all provocation without getting rattled. advice and weigh up all pros and cons before making recommendations or decisions, in order to make sure everyone gets a hearing and “fair go”.

Temperate: The saying “play the ball, not the person”’ applies in debate. Elected members should always attempt to argue As part of KnowHow’s professional the issue and facts under discussion rather development programme Local Government than attack the competence, personality or New Zealand provides a training module ethics of the opposition. focussed on media relations. Visit www.lgnz.co.nz for more information. Prudent and Responsible: Elected members should work to promote issues or Qualities actions they believe are in the public good Councils must adopt a Code of Governance across a range of considerations – ethical based on established best practice. This and financial. provides a useful set of values for all elected Available resources often don’t meet the members to consider. expectations of the community, and existing Faithful: You were voted into local resources need to be managed prudently. government on the understanding that as an Sustainability considerations are now part elected member you would use the powers and parcel of any prudent decision-making. of office to act in the best interests of your Elected members should be prepared to community. Sometimes that understanding defend their decisions on a sustainability is challenged by a conflict of interest. basis as well as a purely financial one. Councillors should always promote the integrity of the council’s decision-making Open and Sincere: To maintain public process and where a councillor takes part in trust in the integrity of the democratic an activity that conflicts with their governance process, elected members should be duties, they need to promptly declare a proactive in giving out information about conflict of interest and not participate in the council decisions and activities. An elected council’s decision-making on this activity. member’s words and actions need to be a sincere representation of their purpose to Impartial and Just: Elected members promote issues or actions that they believe need to find a balance between acting on are right for the public good. the wishes of individuals and groups and their own view of what is best for the whole 13 How do I put my nomination in?

If you are interested in standing for for a , and a regional election you need to meet the following council or a local council (including a requirements and complete the local board or community board). nomination process. And, if you wish, you can stand for mayor and for council. If you are elected to both, What are the requirements? the position of councillor is filled by the To be eligible to stand for election you next highest polling candidate. do not need any special qualifications. You cannot stand for election in more You must be a New Zealand citizen and than one ward, if the council elects its enrolled on the parliamentary electoral roll members under the ward system. If (anywhere in New Zealand) and have lived the council elects some of its members at your current address for at least one under the ward system and some under month. You do not need to live in the area the at-large system you cannot stand as in which you wish to stand. both a ward candidate and an at-large You can stand for any of the following: candidate. You can stand and be elected • your local council (mayor, councillor); to more than one local board. You cannot • local board (if established); stand for more than one constituency. • community board (if established); You may stand for election if you are an • your regional council; employee of a council. However, if you • your district health board; and are elected as a councillor or local board • district licensing trust (if established). member in the local authority for which you work, you must resign your position as Combinations allowed an employee of that local authority before taking up your position as an elected You can stand for your local council member. This does not apply to council (including a local board or community employees elected to Community Boards. board) and for a district health board at the same time. Or you can stand If you are employed you may need to talk for regional council and a district to your employer about your intentions health board at the same time. to stand for election including the implications of being successful. In some The law prevents you from standing for instances you may need to take leave from both a regional council and a local council work while you campaign. or community board position in the same region. However, you can stand for election for both a local council and a local board or community board at the same time, but if you are elected to both you must vacate your position on the local board or community board. You can also stand

14 What is the nomination process? Will a criminal conviction affect You will need two people to nominate you my being an elected member? (on the official nomination form) and send A criminal conviction will not usually affect your completed form to the electoral officer your nomination. The only exception to this for your local council. You must consent to is that people currently serving a prison your nomination going forward (by signing term of three years or more cannot stand. the nomination form) and you cannot If you are elected and subsequently nominate yourself. Those who nominate you convicted of an offence punishable by must be over 18 years old and enrolled to imprisonment for two years or more, vote in the area you wish to stand in. When you automatically lose office. However, you send in the nomination form you will if you are planning to stand for a district need to pay a $200 (incl GST) deposit. health board position, there are additional The deposit may be refunded depending restrictions (see clause 17, schedule 2, New on how many votes you receive in the Zealand Public Health and Disability Act election and the particular type of 2000). To be eligible to stand for election election. The deposit is refunded if the you do not need any special qualifications. number of votes you receive is greater than 25 per cent of the lowest successful candidate for that particular election (for First Past the Post elections) or greater than 25 per cent of the final quota as determined in the last iteration (for Single Transferable Voting elections).

When you submit your nomination forms you can also provide the electoral officer with a recent photograph of yourself and a 150 word profile statement. These will be published in a booklet and sent out with the voting documents.

Nominations open on Friday 19 July 2013. Nomination forms will be available from your local council’s electoral office.

15 How does the election process work?

The local government elections will People can also check their details and be conducted under the provisions of enrol online at the website. the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Local Voting documents will be sent to all Electoral Regulations 2001, the Local eligible voters by post from Friday 20 Government Act 2002, the New Zealand September 2013. Voters will have three Public Health and Disability Act 2000 and weeks to complete and return their voting their amendments. Most local government documents. Completed voting documents elections are conducted using the “First must be returned to the electoral officer by Past the Post” system (FPP) so the 12 noon on Saturday 12 October 2013. candidate with the highest number of votes wins. This year six councils, in addition to A polling place for the issuing of special all 20 district health boards, will use the voting documents and for the receiving Single Transferable Voting system (STV). of completed voting documents will be available from Friday 20 September 2013 Elections for all local authorities throughout to 12 noon Saturday 12 October 2013. New Zealand are held every three years Contact your local council for information and are all conducted by postal vote. on local polling places. This year, election day will be Saturday 12 October 2013 and all votes have to Preliminary results will be announced by be received by 12 noon on that date. the electoral officer as soon as practicable after voting closes, to be followed by Your council will have an electoral officer the official results within a few days. to run the election. This person is often a The electoral officer will also write to all council employee, although many councils candidates once the final election result is employ contractors to conduct their known. The term of office is for three years. elections. Sitting elected members and anyone standing for election cannot be an Successful elected members take up office electoral officer. on the day after the official declaration is publicly notified. However, before they People who are enrolled to vote by Friday can make any decisions, elected members 16 August 2013 will be sent their voting must swear an oath of office (see the papers in the mail. An enrolment campaign declaration). The oath for mayor and will run from 1 July to 20 August to councillors is made at the first meeting of encourage people to enrol, check or update the new council and the oath for board their enrolment details. Enrolment forms are members at the first meeting of the available from the elections website community or local board. This meeting is www.elections.org.nz, by the elector free usually held within two weeks of the official texting their name and address to 3676, declaration of election results. from PostShops or by calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56).

16 The declaration

“I declare that I will faithfully and impartially, and according to the best of my skill and judgement, execute and perform, in the best interests of (region, district, community) the powers, authorities and duties vested in or imposed upon, me as (mayor, chairperson or member) of the (local authority, local board, community board) by virtue of the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Offi cial Information and Meetings Act 1987 or any other Act.”

Key dates

Date Activity 19 July Candidate nominations open and roll opens for public inspection 19 July to 16 August at Receipt of candidate nominations midday. 16 August at midday Candidate nominations close and roll closes 21 August Public notice of candidates’ names 20 to 25 September Voting documents delivered 17 September – 9 October Special voting period 20 September to 12 October Progressive roll scrutiny, special voting, early processing 12 October midday Election Day – voting closes midday 12 October from midday Preliminary results 17 to 23 October Declaration of results October/November Elected members’ swearing-in ceremonies

17 How can I find out more?

If you would like further information about your Council www.ashburtondc.govt.nz council, consider looking at its current Annual Auckland Council Plan or its Long Term Plan. These documents www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz show what the council is doing and will generally Regional Council include other useful information such as names www.boprc.govt.nz

and contact details of elected members and Council senior staff. The latest Annual Report will contain www.bullerdc.govt.nz information on the finances of the council and Carterton District Council www.cartertondc.co.nz how it performed. Your local library should have Central Hawke’s Bay District copies of these documents, or you can get Council copies from your council. If you would like more www.chbdc.govt.nz information on the STV or FPP electoral systems Central District Council www.codc.govt.nz please contact the Department of Internal Affairs or visit their website www.dia.govt.nz. Chatham Islands Council www.cic.govt.nz

For sector-wide information and to find out what City Council LGNZ is doing visit www.lgnz.co.nz. www.ccc.govt.nz Council For more detailed information on material in www.cluthadc.govt.nz this booklet please contact your local council. City Council www.dunedin.govt.nz

Environment Southland www.es.govt.nz

Far North District Council www.fndc.govt.nz

Gisborne District Council www.gdc.govt.nz

18 District Council District Council www.goredc.govt.nz www.kapiticoast.govt.nz www.otodc.govt.nz

Greater Regional District Council City Council Council www.kaweraudc.govt.nz www.pncc.govt.nz www.gw.govt.nz Council City Council Council www.mackenzie.govt.nz www.pcc.govt.nz www.greydc.govt.nz Manawatu District Council Queenstown Lakes District Hamilton City Council www.manawatu.govt.nz Council www.hamilton.co.nz www.qldc.govt.nz Marlborough District Council Council www.mdc.govt.nz Council www.hastingsdc.govt.nz www.rangitikei.govt.nz District Council Council www.mstn.govt.nz District Council www.hauraki-dc.govt.nz www.rdc.govt.nz Matamata-Piako District Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Council Council www.hbrc.govt.nz www.mpdc.govt.nz www.ruapehudc.govt.nz

Horizons Regional Council Council www.horizons.govt.nz www.napier.govt.nz www.selwyn.govt.nz

Horowhenua District Council Nelson City Council www.horowhenua.govt.nz www.ncc.govt.nz Council www.southtaranaki.com Council District www.hurunui.govt.nz Council South www.newplymouthnz.com Council Hutt City Council www.swktodc.govt.nz www.huttcity.govt.nz Northland Regional Council www.nrc.govt.nz City Council Council www.icc.govt.nz Opotiki District Council www.southwaikato.govt.nz www.odc.govt.nz Kaikoura District Council Council www.kaikoura.govt.nz www.southlanddc.govt.nz www.orc.govt.nz Council www.kaipara.govt.nz

19 Stratford District Council Council www.stratford.govt.nz www.waipadc.govt.nz

Taranaki Regional Council District Council www.trc.govt.nz www.wairoadc.govt.nz

Tararua District Council Council www.tararuadc.govt.nz www.waitaki.govt.nz

Tasman District Council Council www.tasman.govt.nz www.waitomo.govt.nz

Taupo District Council Wanganui District Council www.taupo.govt.nz www.wanganui.govt.nz

Tauranga City Council www..govt.nz www.wellington.govt.nz

Thames-Coromandel District West Coast Regional Council Council www.wcrc.govt.nz www.tcdc.govt.nz Western Bay of Plenty District District Council Council www.timaru.govt.nz www.westernbay.govt.nz

Upper Hutt City Council Council www.upperhuttcity.com www.westland.govt.nz

Waikato District Council Whakatane District Council www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz www.whakatane.govt.nz

Waikato Region Council Council www.waikatoregion.govt.nz www.wdc.govt.nz

Waimakariri District Council www.waimakariri.govt.nz

Waimate District Council www.waimatedc.govt.nz

20 So what are you waiting for? Make a stand. This booklet has been prepared by Local Government New Zealand for the 2013 local elections. ISSN 2324-4984