Council candidates named for Palmerston North’s upcoming local body elections

The electoral officer has declared Roly Fitzgerald and Debi Marshall-Lobb will be elected as councillors. Since only two nominations were received for the two seats in Te Pūao Māori ward, no election is necessary.

This is the first time Palmerston North will have Māori ward councillors, after the council resolved to establish a Māori ward with two seats in 2021.

Te Pūao Māori ward councillors will have a particular responsibility to represent people of Māori descent on the Māori electoral roll and to bring forward Māori views and aspirations.

But just like Te Hirawanui general ward councillors, they will also represent the entire city.

Fitzgerald and Marshall-Lobb will take office at the same time as the other successful candidates and they will be sworn in together at the end of October.

With no election necessary for Te Pūao Māori ward, Palmerston North residents on the Māori electoral roll will receive voting papers for mayor of Palmerston North City Council and the Tonga Māori constituency for Horizons Regional Council.

Voting papers for Te Hirawanui general ward (33 candidates for 13 seats) and for mayor (4 candidates for one seat) will be sent out on September 16, with voting closing at 12pm on October 8.

Candidate meetings

■ Friday, Manawatū Multicultural Council, 7pm, THINK Hauora

■ Saturday, Palmerston North Youth Council, 3pm, Youth Space

■ Monday, Environment Network Manawatū , 5.30pm, Hancock Community House

■ September 5, Manawatū People’s Radio, mayoral candidates, 6pm, Globe Theatre

■ September 6, Manawatū People’s Radio, Te Hirawanui general ward candidates, 6pm, Globe Theatre

■ September 12, Palmerston North Community Services Council, 6pm, Te Manawa

■ September 13, Palmy BID (for CBD businesses and commercial ratepayers), 5.30pm Globe Theatre

■ September 15, Papaioea Pasifika Community Trust and Niuvaka Trust, 6pm, Pasifika Community Centre