2019 Candidate Information Booklet
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Candidate Information Handbook 2 019 CANDIDATE INFORMATION HANDBOOK Find out more at Waikato District Council Waikato www.votewaikato.co.nz WAIVOTE WAISTAND WAINOT 2019 CANDIDATE MAY 2019 MAY INFORMATION HANDBOOKWAIKATO 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. Waikato 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 Council structure and vision 3 Elections 4 Fact Sheet 5 Timetable 7 Electoral principles 8 Electoral legislation 9 Electoral systems 10 Candidate eligibility 11 Nominations 13 Candidate information briefings 18 Campaigning 19 Electoral donations and expenses 21 Council bylaw on election signs 30 Electoral rolls 32 Voting and special voting 34 Early processing of returned voting documents 36 Scrutineers 37 Results 38 Roles, responsibilities and remuneration 39 Term of membership 42 Community board membership 43 Additional information 44 Health and safety responsibilities 46 Election offences 47 2016 voting document returns 51 2016 election results 53 Maps 55 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 of interest to you as a candidate in the 2019 local Waikato District Council are being conducted by government elections. postal vote concluding on Saturday 12 October 2019. More information specific to Waikato 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.votewaikato.co.nz in July references are found on page 9 of this handbook. 2019. 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: Deputy electoral officer: Dale Ofsoske, Independent Election Services Ltd Brendan Stringer, Democracy Manager Level 2, 198 Federal Street, Auckland 1010 Waikato District Council PO Box 5135, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia Phone - 0800 922 822 Private Bag 544, Ngaruawahia 3742 Email - [email protected] Phone - 0800 492 452 or 07 824 8633 Website - www.electionservices.co.nz Email - [email protected] Website - www.votewaikato.co.nz 2 Council structure and vision Key message Council vision The council and community boards work in The council’s vision is to work together as a district to partnership with the community to make the build liveable, thriving, connected communities. key decisions for the district’s long-term future, Liveable communities are well-planned and people- responding to the differing needs of diverse friendly, providing for a range of quality residential communities, through plans and strategies, and by options, social infrastructure, walkways and open facilitating progress against the council’s goals. spaces. They reflect what’s important to people, and support a shared sense of belonging both to the local Council structure community and the wider district. The council is made up of the mayor and 13 Thriving communities participate in council councillors. There are 10 wards in the Waikato decision-making and community-led projects, District. Councillors are elected by voters in each provide input into the management of their local ward. The council focuses on the big-picture assets, and sustain the local business sector that issues that affect the whole district and its diverse provides local employment. communities. The mayor is elected by all voters within the district. Connected communities have fit-for-purpose infrastructure to create liveable, thriving There are five community boards, which represent communities. Connectivity through roads, cycleways, their local areas. Each board has six members elected walkways and digital capabilities enable rapid by voters from the area they represent. Up to two information sharing and engaging in activities councillors are also appointed as members to each together. By these means, people in connected board. Community boards have a key advocacy communities access services and amenities that role in local decisions and policies. They also make meet their social, health, education and employment decisions within their delegations, including funding needs. community projects and groups. Read more about the council’s vision and strategy on: • council’s website: www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz or • the current long term plan: https://www.waikatodistrict.govt.nz/your- council/plans-policies-and-bylaws/plans/long- term-plan 3 Elections Elections required Community Board Members Resident Electors Elections will be held for: Huntly 6 4,980 Ngaruawahia 6 5,191 • mayor • councillors Onewhero-Tuakau 6 6,539 • community board members Raglan 6 3,138 • Te Kauwhata Licensing Trust members Taupiri 6 336 • Waikato Regional Council members 30 20,184 • Counties Manukau District Health Board Number of electors as at 31 March 2019, based on 2016 community members boards In 2018, the Waikato District Council undertook a Waikato Regional Council is divided into six General representation arrangements review (review of wards, constituencies and two Maaori constituencies. These boundaries, number of elected members, etc). The are: final proposal, as confirmed by the Local Government Commission, retains the existing number of Resident councillors and wards but with some minor ward and General Constituency Members community board boundary alterations to better Electors reflect communities of interest. Thames-Coromandel 1 27,732 Waikato 2 42,703 The Waikato District Council area is divided into 10 Hamilton 4 93,108 wards and five community boards. These are: Waihou 2 42,283 Waipā-King Country 2 44,770 Resident Ward Councillors Electors Taupō-Rotorua 1 23,436 Awaroa ki Tuakau 2 8,914 12 274,032 Eureka 1 3,941 Maaori Constituency Hukanui-Waerenga 1 3,474 Ngā Hau e Whā 1 19,274 Huntly 2 6,345 Ngā Tai ki Uta 1 15,425 Newcastle 1 4,170 2 34,669 Number of electors as at 31 March 2019. Ngaruawahia 2 6,779 Onewhero-Te Akau 1 3,630 There will be no election for the Waikato District Raglan 1 4,129 Health Board due to the recent appointment of a Tamahere 1 4,503 commissioner. Whangamarino 1 3,695 The Counties Manukau District Health Board’s seven 13 49,580 members are elected ‘at large’ from parts of Waikato Number of electors as at 31 March 2019, based on 2016 wards. District, Hauraki District and Auckland Council areas. The six Te Kauwhata Licensing Trust members (2,293 resident electors) are elected ‘at large’ from within the licensing trust area. 4 Fact Sheet Triennial Election Waikato District Council 12 October 2019 General • Raglan Community (6) • Taupiri Community (6) Triennial elections for elected members of all local authorities throughout New Zealand are to be In addition, electors will be voting for the following conducted, by postal vote, on Saturday 12 October positions: 2019. • Waikato Regional Council members (either 2 The elections will be conducted under the provisions members from Waikato General Constituency of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local or 1 member from the Nga Hau E Wha Maaori Electoral Regulations 2001 and will be undertaken by Constituency). Election Services, under contract to Waikato District Council. • 7 members from the Counties Manukau District Health Board, elected ‘at large’). Positions • Te Kauwhata Licensing Trust members (6 During 2018, Waikato District Council undertook elected from the Te Kauwhata Area). a representation arrangements review (a review of wards, boundaries, number of councillors etc). Nominations The final proposal as confirmed by the Local Nominations for the above positions will open on Government Commission, largely retains the current Friday 19 July 2019 and close at noon on Friday 16 arrangements as follows: August 2019. • mayor (elected ‘at large’) Nomination papers will be available during this period: • councillors (13) • Council Head Office, • Awaroa ki Tuakau Ward (2) 15 Galileo Street, Ngaruawahia; • Eureka Ward (1) • Huntly Office, 142 Main Street, Huntly; • Hukanui-Waerenga Ward (1) • Raglan Office, 7 Bow Street, Raglan; • Huntly Ward (2) • Te Kauwhata Office, 1 Main Road, • Newcastle Ward (1) Te Kauwhata; • Ngaruawahia Ward (2) • Tuakau Office, 2 Dominion Road, Tuakau; • Onewhero-Te Akau Ward (1) • by accessing www.votewaikato.co.nz • Raglan Ward (1) • by telephoning the electoral office on • Tamahere Ward (1) 0800 922 822. • Whangamarino Ward (1) To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must • community board members (30) be: • Huntly Community (6) • a New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship • Ngaruawahia Community (6) ceremony); and • Onewhero-Tuakau