2019 Southland District Council Election Candidate Information
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Candidate Information Handbook Southland District Council 2019 CANDIDATE May 2019 INFORMATION HANDBOOK SOUTHLAND 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. Southland 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 June 2019 Contents Overview 2 Elections 3 Timetable 5 Electoral principles 6 Electoral legislation 7 Electoral systems 8 Candidate eligibility 9 Nominations 11 Campaigning 17 Electoral donations and expenses 19 Council policy on election signs 29 Electoral rolls 34 Voting and special voting 36 Early processing of returned voting documents 38 Scrutineers 39 Results 40 Term of membership 41 Community board membership 42 Election offences 43 Remuneration 47 Health and safety responsibilities 48 2016 voting document returns 49 2016 election results 51 Maps 52 Role of members 62 Council governance 63 Taxation of elected members 64 Code of conduct 65 Relationship between Māori and local government in Murihiku 66 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 Southland District Council are being conducted by government elections. postal vote concluding on Saturday 12 October 2019. More information specific to Southland 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.southlanddc.govt.nz in July references are found on page 6 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 Clare Sullivan, Governance and Democracy Manager Level 2, 198 Federal Street, Auckland 1010 Southland District Council PO Box 5135, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141 15 Forth Street, Invercargill Phone - 0800 922 822 PO Box 903, Invercargill 9840 Email - [email protected] Phone - 0800 732 732 or 03 211 2502 extn 3254 Website - www.electionservices.co.nz Email - [email protected] Website - www.southlanddc.govt.nz 2 Elections Elections required Community boards and Resident Members subdivisions Electors Elections will be held for: Ardlussa 6 1,328 • mayor Fiordland 6 2,638 • councillors Northern 6 1,100 • community board members - Parawa-Fairlight 1 163 • Mataura Licensing Trust members - West Dome 2 417 - Mid Dome 3 520 • Southland Regional Council (known as Environment Southland) members Oraka Aparima 6 2,018 Oreti 7 5,786 • Southern District Health Board (Southland Constituency) members - Hokonui 1 687 - Midlands 4 3462 • Gore and Districts Health Incorporated members - Makarewa 2 1637 Stewart Island/Rakiura 6 269 In 2018, Southland District Council undertook a Tuatapere Te Waewae 6 1,064 representation arrangements review (review of wards, Waihopai Toetoe 7 3,996 boundaries, number of elected members, community Wallace Takitimu 6 2,084 boards etc). 56 20,283 The final proposal, as confirmed by the Local Number of electors as at 27 May 2019. Government Commission, retains the existing number of councillors and wards but with a Environment Southland is divided into six minor ward boundary alteration to better reflect constituencies these being: communities of interest. In addition nine community boards covering the whole district were established. Resident Constituency Members Of the nine community boards, two were further Electors subdivided. Eastern-Dome 2 11,574 During this process council wanted to ensure Fiordland 1 2,647 representation equity across the district to enable 1 5,352 democratic local decision making by, and on behalf Hokonui of, the district’s communities. Invercargill-Rakiura 6 39,927 Southern 1 4,320 Accordingly, the Southland District Council is divided into five wards and nine community boards, these Western 1 5,177 being: 12 68,997 Number of electors as at 31 March 2019. Resident Ward Councillors Electors Mararoa Waimea 3 5,066 Oreti 3 5,786 Stewart Island/Rakiura 1 269 Waiau Aparima 3 5,166 Waihopai Toetoe 2 3,996 12 20,283 Number of electors as at 27 May 2019. 3 The Southern District Health Board’s seven members Gore and Districts Health Incorporated is divided into are elected from two constituencies - three members three wards, these being: from the Southland Constituency and four members from the Otago Constituency. Ward Area Members Part Clutha District The Mataura Licensing Trust is divided into seven Clutha 1 Council area wards, these being: Gore Gore District Council area 4 Resident Part Southland District Ward Members Southland 1 Electors Council area Ward 1 - Tapanui 1 0 6 Ward 2 - Gore 3 0 Ward 3 - Mataura 1 0 Ward 4 - Rural 1 162 Ward 5 - Edendale 1 1,332 Ward 6 - Wyndham 1 650 Ward 7 - Tokanui 1 554 9 2,698 Number of electors as at 31 March 2019. 4 Timetable Triennial Election Southland 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 - Saturday 12 October 2019 Special voting period [Sec 5 LEA, Reg 35, LER] Early processing period [Sec 80, LEA] by Friday 11 October 2019 Appointment of scrutineers (12 noon) [Sec 68, LEA] Election day [Sec 10, LEA] Close of voting (12 noon) [Sec 84, LEA] Saturday 12 October 2019 Progress and preliminary results available as soon as practicable after close of voting [Sec 85, LEA] Saturday 12 October (pm) - Thursday 17 October 2019 Official count [Sec 84, LEA] Thursday 17 October - Wednesday 23 October 2019 Declaration of result/public notice of declaration [Sec 86, LEA] by Friday 13 December 2019 Return of electoral donations & expenses form [Sec 112A, LEA] LEA = Local Electoral Act 2001 LER = Local Electoral Regulations 2001 5 Electoral principles Key message c. public confidence in, and public understanding of, local electoral processes through: The electoral principles contained in section 4 of the Local Electoral Act 2001 are outlined below for i. the provision of a regular election cycle; candidate information. These principles must be taken into account in the conduct of any election or ii. the provision of elections that are poll. managed independently from the elected body; Principles iii. protection of the freedom of choice of (1) The principles that this Act is designed to voters and the secrecy of the vote; implement are the following: iv. the provision of transparent electoral a. fair and effective representation for systems and voting methods and the individuals and communities adoption of procedures that produce certainty in electoral outcomes; aa. representative and substantial electoral participation in local elections and polls. v. the provision of impartial mechanisms for resolving disputed elections and polls. b. all qualified persons have a reasonable and equal opportunity to: (2) Local authorities, electoral officers, and other i. cast an informed vote; electoral officials must, in making decisions under this Act or any other enactment, take into ii. nominate 1 or more candidates; account those principles specified in subsection (1) that are applicable (if any), so far as is iii. accept nomination as a candidate. practicable in the circumstances. (3) This section does not override any other provision in this Act or any other enactment. 6 Electoral legislation Key message In addition, all district health board elections are subject to the following legislation: All local government elections are required to be conducted strictly following legislation. • New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000; Legislation to be followed • Crown Entities Act 2004. • Local Electoral Act 2001; In addition, all licensing trust