2019 Candidate Information Handbook
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Candidate Information Handbook Kawera u District Council 2019 CANDIDATE May 2019 INFORMATION HANDBOOK KAWERAU DISTRICT 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. Kawerau District 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 May 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 briefing 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 46 Map 47 Bay of Plenty District Health Board background information for elections 48 Return of electoral donations and expenses form Notes 1 Overview This handbook provides information which may be The triennial elections of elected members to of interest to you as a candidate in the 2019 local Kawerau District Council are being conducted by government elections. postal vote concluding on Saturday 12 October 2019. More information specific to Kawerau District 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.kaweraudc.govt.nz in July references are found on page 8 of this handbook. 2019. Key dates for candidates Nominations open Friday 19 July 2019 Candidate information briefing 6:00pm, Tuesday 23 July 2019 Nominations close Noon, Friday 16 August 2019 Delivery of voting documents/voting opens 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: Kawerau District Council liaison person: Dale Ofsoske, Independent Election Services Ltd Sandra Haines, Policy Analyst/Strategic Planner Level 2, 198 Federal Street, Auckland 1010 Kawerau District Council PO Box 5135, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 Ranfurly Court, Kawerau Phone - 0800 922 822 Private Bag 1004, Kawerau 3169 Email - [email protected] Phone - 07 306 9009 Website - www.electionservices.co.nz Email - www.kaweraudc.govt.nz Website - www.kaweraudc.govt.nz 2 Elections Elections required The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is divided into four General constituencies and three Māori Elections will be held for: consituencies, these being: • mayor Resident Constituency Members • councillors electors • Bay of Plenty Regional Council members General • Bay of Plenty District Health Board members Rotorua 2 34,572 The Kawerau District Council area is not divided into Western Bay of 2 33,759 wards, with councillors elected on an ‘at large’ or Plenty district-wide basis. Tauranga 5 89,863 Eastern Bay of 2 24,470 Resident Plenty District Councillors electors 11 182,664 Kawerau (at large) 8 4,918 Māori Number of electors as at 31 March 2019 Mauao 1 10,271 Kohi 1 10,726 Okurei 1 11,431 3 32,428 14 215,092 Number of electors as at 31 March 2019 Note 1: The Eastern Bay of Plenty General Consituency covers all of the Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau District Council areas. Note 2: The Kohi Maori Constituency covers all of the Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki and Kawerau District Council areas. The Bay of Plenty District Health Board’s seven members are elected ‘at large’ from the Kawerau, Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne and Western Bay of Plenty District Council areas, and from the Tauranga City Council area. 3 Fact Sheet Triennial Election Kawerau District 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 from: of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local Electoral Regulations 2001 and will be undertaken by • the District Office, Ranfurly Court, Kawerau; Election Services, under contract to Kawerau District Council. • by accessing www.kaweraudc.govt.nz Positions • by telephoning the electoral office on 0800 922 822. Elections will be required for the following positions: To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must • mayor (elected ‘at large’) be: • councillors (8 members elected ‘at large’) • a New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony); and • Bay of Plenty Regional Council members (either 2 members from the Eastern Bay of • enrolled as a Parliamentary elector (anywhere Plenty General Constituency, or 1 member in New Zealand); and from the Kohi Constituency) • nominated by two electors whose names • Bay of Plenty District Health Board members appear on the electoral roll within the (7 members elected ‘at large’). respective area that a candidate is standing for. 4 Electoral roll Electoral system All resident electors and non-resident ratepayer The first past the post (FPP) electoral system will be electors whose names appear on the electoral roll used for all elections, except for the Bay of Plenty when it closes on Friday 16 August 2019 are eligible District Health Board, which will use the single to vote in the election. The preliminary electoral roll transferable voting (STV) electoral system. will be available for public inspection from Friday 19 July 2019 to Friday 16 August 2019 at the District Voting period office. Voting documents will be sent to all eligible electors, Resident Roll: All parliamentary electors, including by post, from Friday 20 September 2019. those on the Māori Electoral Roll, are automatically enrolled on the Resident Roll, at the address where The voting period is three weeks (Friday 20 they live. September 2019 to noon Saturday 12 October Any alterations to the Resident Roll (e.g. change 2019). Electors may post their completed voting of address details, including new postal addresses) documents back to the electoral officer using the should be made by: orange pre-paid envelope sent with their voting document. Polling places for the issuing of special • completing the appropriate form at any NZ voting documents and for the receiving of completed Post agency; voting documents will be available from Friday 20 September 2019 to noon Saturday 12 October 2019 • phoning 0800 ENROLNOW (0800 367 656); at the District Office. • accessing the Electoral Commission website To be counted, all completed voting documents must on www.elections.org.nz be in the hands of the electoral officer or an electoral official by noon Saturday 12 October 2019. Ratepayer Roll: If a person is on the parliamentary roll in one area and pays rates on a property in another Progress results will be known early afternoon on area, this person may be eligible to be enrolled on Saturday 12 October 2019 and preliminary results the non-resident ratepayer roll. A firm, company, will be known on Sunday morning, 13 October 2019. corporation or society paying rates on a property These will be accessible on council’s website: may nominate one of its members or officers as a www.kaweraudc.govt.nz ratepayer elector (provided the nominated person resides outside the area). Ratepayer Roll enrolment Contact us forms are available: For further information regarding this election, please • the District Office, Ranfurly Court, Kawerau; contact the electoral office: • by telephoning the electoral office on Dale Ofsoske, Electoral Officer 0800 922 822; Kawerau District Council C/o PO Box 5135, Wellesley Street, • by accessing www.kaweraudc.govt.nz Auckland 1141 Email: [email protected] Phone: 0800 922 822 5 Timetable Triennial Election Kawerau District Council 12 October 2019 Saturday 12 October 2019 Saturday 2 March - Tuesday 30 April 2019 Ratepayer roll enrolment confirmation forms sent [Reg 16, LER] Saturday 2 March - Saturday 6 July 2019 Preparation of ratepayer roll [Reg 10, LER] National ratepayer roll qualifications and procedures campaign May 2019 [Sec 39, LEA] Electoral Commission’s enrolment update campaign Monday 1 July 2019 commences Public notice of election, calling for nominations, rolls open for Wednesday 17 July 2019 inspection [Sec 42, 52, 53, LEA] Friday 19 July 2019 Nominations open / roll open for inspection [Sec 42, LEA] Nominations close (12 noon) / roll closes [Sec 5, 42, 55 LEA, Friday 16 August 2019 Reg 21, LER] Wednesday 21 August 2019 Public notice of day of election, candidates’ names [Sec 65, LEA] Electoral officer certifies final electoral roll [Sec 51, LEA, Reg 22, by Monday 16 September 2019 LER] Friday 20 September - Wednesday 25 September 2019 Delivery of voting documents [Reg 51, LER] Progressive roll scrutiny [Sec 83, LEA] Friday 20 September