Local Elections 2013
Overview
> Key Dates
> Nomination Process
> Requirements for becoming an elected member
> Standing for election
> Donations
> Required skills and qualities
> Roles
> Remuneration
> Election process
> Training
[Insert you councils
logo here]
Key dates
•
•
•
•
Nominations open – 19 July
Nominations close – noon, 16 August
Voting Documents posted – 20 September
Election Day – 12 October (voting closes
noon)
• Preliminary results – 12 October
• Declaration of results – 17-23 October
• Return election expense forms – mid
December
The nomination process
You will need to:
• Complete a nomination form.
• Get two people to nominate you:
o
•
These people must be over 18 years old and enrolled to vote in the
area you wish to stand in.
Send your nomination form to your council with a $200 (incl GST)
deposit.
• You may include a 150 word profile and policy statement and a
recent photograph of yourself.
What are the requirements for becoming an Elected Member?
• You must be a New Zealand citizen over the age of 18 and enrolled on
the parliamentary electoral roll.
• People currently serving a prison sentence of three or more years cannot
stand (as not a parliamentary elector).
• If you are elected then convicted of an offence punishable by
imprisonment for two years or more you automatically lose office.
Standing for election (1)
• You can stand for:
o your local council (mayor, councillor, local or community board
member);
o Your regional council;
o Your local district health board (DHB)*; and
o Your district licensing trust (if applicable).
• You cannot stand for:
o Both a regional council and a territorial council, or a regional council
and a local/community board position, at the same election and in the
same region.
*Provisions will vary for DHBs, for more information go to www.moh.govt.nz
or contact your local DHB.
Standing for election (2)
You can stand for:
• Election for both a local council and a local or community
board (if you are elected to both you must vacate your position
on the local or community board).
You can stand for:
• A district health board and a regional council or a territorial
authority (including a community board).
You can stand for:
• Mayor and for council (if elected as mayor the position of
councillor is filled by the next).
Standing for election (3)
Elections in wards, constituencies and subdivisions:
• You cannot stand for election in more than one ward or constituency.
• You cannot stand for election on more that on subdivision of a local or
community board area.
Elections using both the ward system and the at-large system:
• You cannot stand as both a ward candidate and an at-large candidate.
Council employees may stand for election:
• But if elected to a position on the local authority for which they work,
they must resign before taking up the position as an elected member
(mayor, councillor, local board member).
Donations and expenses
• Donations are defined as gifts of money, goods or services made to
a candidate.
• Donations exclude:
o The labour of any person provided to a candidate free of charge
o Goods and service provided free which have a reasonable market value of
less then $300.
• Anonymous donations may not exceed $1,500.
• A candidate must keep proper records of all donations received.
• The cost of any framework supporting a hoarding is no longer
treated as an electoral expense.
Skills
You need no special qualifications.
However, the following skills will be helpful if you are elected:
•
•
•
•
•
Time management
Listening
Relationship building
Influencing and negotiating
Media Skills
Qualities of an Elected Member
These qualities are based on commonly accepted values and statutory
obligations of councillors:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Faithful
Impartial
Just
Prudent
Responsible
Efficient
Open
Representative
Temperate
Sincere
Declaration by Mayor, Chairperson or Elected Member
“I, [AB], declare that I will faithfully and impartially, and according to the best
of my skill and judgement, execute and perform, in the best interests of
[region or district], the powers, authorities, and duties vested in, or imposed
upon me a [mayor, chairperson or member] of the [local authority] by virtue
of the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987, or any other Act.”
Roles of Elected Members
Being a member of the governing body:
• Making decisions
• Employing the Chief Executive
• Monitoring the Chief Executive’s performance
Being a representative of the community:
• Investigate and identify issues of concern to your community
• Represent the interests of your local ward/ constituency, or the
district as a whole.
Remuneration
Elected members remuneration is set by the Remuneration Authority:
• Salaries are determined by a formula based on each councils’ population and
expenditure.
• The Remuneration Authority also sets rules regarding travel allowances and
legitimate expenses.
How much does an elected member earn?
• Check www.remauthority.govt.nz for details on how the Authority works and its
decisions on expenses and remuneration levels for each council.
How much time is involved in being an Elected Member
Time commitments vary depending on the position; and the size and type of
council:
•
•
•
•
Mayors – mostly fulltime
Councillors (average size council) – at least 15 hours per week
Community board members – up to 10 hours per week
Local board members – at least 15 hours a week.
The election process
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
How are local elections conducted?
What voting system is used at (add in name of council)?
How often are the elections held?
How will constituents vote for me
Who runs the election?
When will the results be announced?
If I am elected when will I take up office?
Opportunities for Elected Members to enhance knowledge and skills
• Councils run in-house induction courses
• Regional workshops for newly elected members will be run by
LGNZ in November 2013
• A variety of Professional Development Programme workshops
will be held throughout 2014
Who’s
looking after
our
communities’
future?