Nominations closed - let the campaigns begin | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Nominations have closed and now it's time for the real electioneering to begin.

From this weekend voters can expect to see election billboards popping up and flyers appearing in mailboxes as candidates launch their campaigns for October's local body elections.

Nominations for election to the Rotorua District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Lakes District Health Board, the Rotorua Lakes Community Board and the mayoralty closed at midday on Friday.

There are just three candidates for Rotorua's top job this year. Running for the mayoralty are long-standing district councillor and finance committee chairman Charles Sturt, former district councillor Cliff Lee and incumbent Mayor of Rotorua Kevin Winters.

In the 2007 election there were five mayoral candidates.

The council's corporate planning and support manager, Peter Christophers, said he was pleased with the turnout this year with 28 people standing for 12 positions on council, just one less than in 2007.

He said with just four candidates standing for the four spots on the Rotorua Lakes Community Board, no election would be required for the board. Therefore, candidates Brentleigh Bond, Geoff Palmer, Leo Meharry and Neil Callaghan will make up the board for the next three years.

"I'm very pleased that we have received more candidates than the number of vacancies for each issue [council or board] so a byelection is not required."

This year's election will be held district-wide, instead of using the old ward system that divided the district into four areas.

Elections for all councils and boards will be held by postal vote beginning on September 18. The last day for voting is Saturday, October 9. Preliminary results should be available the next day.

Whakatane District Council community administration officer Jan Storey said that the council had received the most nominations for the five spots in the Whakatane-Ohope ward of the district, in its history.

"We have 19 this year. I'm also very pleased we don't have a byelection this year with enough candidates nominated to fill all of the positions," Mrs Storey said.

Whakatane Mayor Colin Holmes will not contest the mayoralty this election. He has decided to seek a position on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

In Taupo, incumbent Mayor Rick Cooper has some stiff opposition this election from former MP Mark Burton, Edna Isaacs and Rex Mincher.

AND THE CANDIDATES ARE ...

MAYOR:

Kevin Winters

Cliff Lee

Charles Sturt

DISTRICT COUNCIL:

Mark Gould

Dave Donaldson

Roger Gordon

Maggie Bentley

Cliff Lee

Dennis Hanson

Geoff Kenny

Trevor Maxwell

Mike McVicker

Glenys Searancke

Victor Storey

Maureen Waaka

Charles Sturt

Karen Hunt

Janet Wepa

Julie Calnan

Brian McGillivray

Bob Martin

Paora Te Hurihanganui

Rene Mitchell

Paul Weston

Brett Marvelly

Kingi Biddle

Mike Brady

Shaloh Mitchell

Rene Mitchell

Hera Naera

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait

Fred Stevens

REGIONAL COUNCIL (ROTORUA):

Peter Bentley

Aaron Gillions

Neil Oppatt

Lyall Thurston

REGIONAL COUNCIL (EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY):

Bill Clark

Robin Ford

Colin Holmes

Jim Mansell

Malcolm Whitaker

REGIONAL COUNCIL (OKUREI):

Morris Apiata Meha

James Goldsmith

Eugene Berryman-Kamp

Tai Eru

Roku Mihinui

Matt Wepa

Joe Tahana

Kiri Potaka-Dewes

LAKES DHB:

Wayne George

Victor Storey

Martin Hampson

Maureen Waaka

Barry Keehan

Julie Calnan

Lyall Thurston

Paul Sampson

Ailsa Gathergood

Rene Mitchell

Kathryn Uvhagen

Chris Webber

Rob Vigor-Brown

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait

Danny Loughlin

Mary Burdon

LAKES COMMUNITY BOARD:

Brentleigh Bond

Geoff Palmer

Leo Meharry

Neil Callaghan

WHAKATANE MAYOR:

Tony Bonne

Graeme Hanlen

Julie Jukes

Pouroto Nicholas Hamilton Ngaropo

Ian Shearer

Judy Turner

WHAKATANE COUNCIL:

Whakatane-Ohope Ward:

Miria Black

Terry Bourk

Christine Chambers

Chris Dohrman

David Dowd

Matt Fraser

John Glasse

Graeme Hanlen

Te Rongonui Joyce Haraki-Smith

Ted Hipkiss

Scott Jarrett

Christine Larsen

Chris Marjoribanks

Keith Melville

Steve Napier

David Sheaff

Harata Te Amo-Simeon

Julian Tunui

Judy Turner

Taneatua-Waimana ward:

Andrew Iles

Wiremu Huta-Martin

Rangitaiki Ward:

Keith Gregory

George Johnston

Paul Major

Russell Orr

David Potter

Graham Smeaton

Gerard van Beek

Galatea-Murupara Ward:

Arthur Adam

Pouroto Nicholas Hamilton Ngaropo

• Full Whakatane list yet to be confirmed

TAUPO MAYOR:

Rick Cooper

Wayne Richmond

Edna Isaacs

Mark Burton

Rex Mincher

TAUPO COUNCIL:

Taupo/Kaingaroa Ward:

Richard Buckthought

Stephen Spargo

[Ms] Chris Dolman

Barry Hickling

Micheal Downard

Ian Chamberlain

Keith Crate

Anna Kirk

Doreen Blyth

Jeremy Mihaka-Dyer

Rex Charles Mincher

Christine McElwee

Kathryn Uvhagen

Andrew Welch

Chris Johnston

Nicola Williams

Turangi/Tongariro Ward:

Don Ormsby

Gary Keepa

Terry O'Brien

Brent Schroder

Rob Henderson

Mangakino/Pouakani Ward:

Kirsty Trueman

Ian Coulter

Whitu Karauna