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The local body elections in Auckland are fast coming up, with nominations opening on Friday, July 4 and closing at noon on Friday, August 1. If you’ve been thinking about standing as a candidate, now is the time to get ready.
To stand for election, you need to be a New Zealand citizen, over 18 years old, and enrolled to vote. You’ll also need to pay a $200 nomination fee, but this is refundable if you gain enough votes. You can stand for more than one local board, but you can only be elected to one. You must also be nominated by two electors (that is, people listed on the electoral roll) from the ward that the candidate is standing for.
Keep in mind that running a campaign also costs money. You’ll need to budget for things like flyers, signs, and advertising to get your message out. However, candidate expenditure limits are set, limiting how much a candidate can spend on a campaign, and this is determined by the size of the population. For example, in an area with a population of 80 to 100,000 people, the limit is $50,000.
If you’re elected, you’ll help make decisions for Auckland, either as part of the city-wide council or your local board. Local boards are important because they focus on the issues that matter the most to our community, from parks and libraries to local roads and events.
For voters on the Hibiscus Coast, two local boards cover the area: Rodney Local Board and Hibiscus and Bays Local Board, with nine and eight members respectively.
Rodney Ward has one councillor and Albany Ward has two councillors covering Hibiscus Coast and East Coast Bays.
Being an elected member is an important job that requires time and dedication. You’ll attend meetings, talk with the community, and sometimes speak to the media. It’s also a public role, so you’ll be in the spotlight from time to time.
Before you decide to stand, think about how you’ll manage these responsibilities alongside your work and family life. The positions are paid and the remuneration levels are listed on the Auckland council website and in the candidate handbook.
If you considering standing, now is the time to get ready. Info: voteAuckland.co.nz and the Auckland Council website.
The candidate handbook on the Vote Auckland website has information for candidates and local libraries will run information sessions leading up to the election.
