Nominations for Bay elections close soon

Hawke’s Bay’s five councils urge all prospective candidates not to wait until the last minute to sign up for this year’s local body elections.

The year’s nomination period closes at noon on Friday, August 12, and electoral officers say candidates need to read through relevant information and complete the forms.

Napier City Council, Hastings District Council and Central Hawke’s Bay Council have hosted information sessions/candidate evenings over the past week.

The events were also livestreamed.

Prospective candidates were encouraged to email any questions to the councils and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council’s electoral officer was also at the Hastings and CHB events to answer questions about standing for the regional council.

Candidates don’t have to live in the area (e.g. district, ward or community board) they stand for but must be a New Zealand citizen, a parliamentary elector anywhere in New Zealand and nominated by two electors from the area the person is standing in.

A person does not need to be of Māori descent or be on the Māori electoral roll to stand for a Māori ward or constituency.

However, only people on the Māori electoral roll are able to vote for candidates standing for a Māori ward or constituency.

Similarly, only those on the general electoral roll are able to vote for candidates standing for a general ward or constituency.