FROM THE EDITOR

The local elections are now less than three weeks away.

The Hutt Valley normally has a very low voter turnout. There is a lot of apathy about the elections and how much impact the council has on our day to day lives, especially among young voters.

Local government impacts our water, libraries, roads, parks, swimming pools, events, drains and more. If you value your community, then you need to vote for the person you believe will keep it the great place it is, or even make it better.

We also need to start telling our children that their vote matters as well. Much research shows that the earlier people start to vote the more likely they are to keep voting.

Many of you will have already received voting papers and we all have until noon on October 8 to return them. (see page 6) Don’t leave it until the last minute.

I encourage you all to have your say.— Sharron Pardoe