At the close of nominations at midday today (Friday, 1 August), one candidate has been elected unopposed to Waikato Regional Council, with competition in seven constituencies.
The number of candidates did not exceed the number of vacancies in the Ngā Tai ki Uta constituency. As a result, Kataraina Hodge has been elected unopposed and regional council voting will not occur in that constituency, according to a information released late this afternoon.
Thirty-two nominations had been received for 14 Waikato Regional Council seats in six general and two Māori constituencies in this year’s local government elections.
Voting will take place in the Hamilton, Taupō-Rotorua, Waihou, Waipā-King Country, Thames-Coromandel, Waikato and Ngā Hau e Whā constituencies.
The 10 candidates standing for the four Hamilton seats are (in alphabetical order):
- Angela Strange
- Bala Tikkisetty
- Ben Dunbar-Smith
- Bruce Clarkson
- Chris Hughes
- Henry Penny
- Jennifer Nickel
- Pamela Chiles
- Phillip Westwood, and
- Robin Ratcliffe
Full list of candidates from other regions can be viewed here. Candidate profiles will be available online from 4 August.
Voting papers will be delivered between 9 and 22 September and 7 October is the last day of posting by mail. Voting closes at midday(12 noon), 11 October.
Fast and Factual
I wish to offer my congratulations to Kataraina Hodge for her win in that unopposed constituency for Waikato Regional Council.