Tauranga by-election postponed

Electoral officer Warwick Lampp. File photo.

Following the resignation of councillor Heidi Hughes this morning, electoral officer Warwick Lampp is announcing the postponement of the Tauranga by-election.

Lampp has issued a public notice countermanding the earlier notice of by-election for the positions of Mayor of Tauranga City Council and Councillor for the Otumoetai-Pyes Pa Ward.

Lampp has exercised his authority under the Local Electoral Act 2001 and postponed the by-election.

He says the Act requires that the by-election process starts again, with nominations for the three vacant positions opening on Monday, 18 January 2021 and closing on Monday, 15 February 2021. Election day would then be Monday, 12 April 2021.

'However, if the Commission announced last week by the Minister of Local Government is appointed on 8 February 2021, as expected, the by-election would be cancelled before nominations close.

"That being the case, the postponement will save the city in the order of $250,000 in unnecessary expenditure.”

By-election candidates as at the close of nominations today are as follows:

Mayor of Tauranga: Brian Friend; Jos Nagels; Kelvin Clout and Greg Brownless.

Otumoetai-Pyes Pa Ward Councillor: Kim Williams and Murray Guy.

Those nominations will carry forward to the new process beginning on 18 January.

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4 comments

Phew!

Posted on 22-12-2020 16:17 | By WestieMum

In a press release confirming Nanaia Mahuta's decision it stated that "the commission would effectively replace the council's elected members"... so why would you run a by-election just prior to the Commission taking effect if they are being replace by the commission?? At least we know who not to vote for next time - those willing to waste money to stroke their own egos and certainly don't have the best interests of TCC/ratepayers at heart. Thank you Heidi for your selflessness.


Commissioner

Posted on 22-12-2020 17:39 | By Told you

When the commissioner takes over the elected councillors lose their status and become nil and void in other words are redundant, of no use to Tom,Dick, or Harry.


HAHAHA

Posted on 22-12-2020 21:49 | By Yadick

HAHAHA, Clout for Mayor. The only thing he should be running for is the door. Totally clear now as to why you caused SO much grief for Colonel Powell. I voted for you as Councillor and I won't be making that mistake again. Mayor - HAHAHA.


Good On Heidi

Posted on 23-12-2020 01:06 | By Mommatum

It’s not very often that somebody in public office will literally put their money where their mouth is. Heidi Hughes has done just that, putting Tauranga’s interests first and giving up her salary to save us the cost of an ineffectual by-election. That’s a huge sacrifice, the kind that takes real courage,


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