Katikati and Waihi Beach residents have an opportunity to meet candidates standing for the Western Bay of Plenty District Council at the upcoming local elections.

A meeting is being convened this afternoon by Katch Katikati Inc at the Katikati Memorial Hall on Main Road, Katikati.

Compered by Kit Wilson, the ‘Meet the Candidates' event starts at 3pm, Sunday September 8, and will feature candidates who have been nominated for the Katikati Community Board, Western Bay of Plenty District Council (Katikati - Waihi Beach ward) and Western Bay of Plenty ward of the District Council. Each candidate will be given four minutes to promote themselves.

No questions will be asked from these candidates at this stage.

Following the candidates, each of the three Mayoral candidates – Stephen Fawcett, Margaret Murray-Benge and Garry Webber - will be given six minutes to introduce and promote themselves.

On completion of the speeches the floor will be opened up for a question and answer session. The public will be able to ask one question to one candidate, with questions at the discretion of the MC. This section of the meeting will be strictly timed.

The next local Western Bay of Plenty District election is on Saturday, October 12 2019. Local elections are held once every three years.

The candidates for the Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward, Katikati Community Board, and Waihi Beach Community Board:

Councillor - Katikati-Waihi Beach Ward (3 vacancies)

Neil Candy

John Clements

James Denyer

Anne Henry

Christina Humphreys

Tangiwai Manihera-Palmer

David Marshall

Allan Sole

Kevin Tohiariki

George Van Dyke

Katikati Community Board – Member (4 vacancies)

John Clements

Neil Harray

Christina Humphreys

Norm Mayo

Kate Sutherland

George Van Dyke

Ben Warren

Kamal Yadav

Waihi Beach Community Board – Member (4 vacancies)

Ross Goudie

Bob Hulme

Marilyn Roberts

Don Ryan