Candidates compete for Coast votes

Rodney Cr Greg Sayers put up more than a dozen billboards in support of his election campaign, only to find out last month that he was the first Rodney councillor since Auckland Council’s formation in 2010 to be elected unopposed. Two of the four local board subdivisions in Rodney – Dairy Flat and Wellsford – are also uncontested. This means Louise Johnston and Colin Smith will be re-elected unopposed.

Election hoardings are again crowding roadsides as local body candidates compete for your vote.
Last month the final list of candidates for the Auckland Council elections was released.

In this area (Albany Ward) incumbent councillors John Watson and Wayne Walker are being opposed by Hibiscus & Bays Local Board chair Julia Parfitt and Alezix Heneti, who also stood last election.

In total there are 21 people standing for Mayor, 54 people vying for the 20 councillor seats and 348 people contesting local board positions.

Locally, 14 people are contesting four seats on the Hibiscus Coast subdivision of the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board.

There are also 83 candidates for the three Auckland District Health Boards, compared to 72 in 2016, and 61 candidates for the five licensing trusts, compared to 63 last election.

Postal voting opens on September 20, with October 8 the last day to post voting papers.

Election day is October 12, with voting closing on midday.

Results will be announced October 17-23.

There will be a guide to local candidates in the next issue of Hibiscus Matters, out September 18.