Latest news with #Waimakariri
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Orange ballot boxes to be placed around Canterbury district to make postal voting easier
Voting papers from any neighbouring district would be accepted in Waimakariri ballot boxes. Photo: NZ ELECTORAL COMMISSION Orange ballot boxes are expected to pop up around North Canterbury later this year. Waimakariri District Council deputy electoral officer Sarah Nichols said orange ballot boxes would be deployed around the district in September and October to make it easier for people to vote in this year's local government elections . ''We are still finalising the locations, but we are intending to have more than we did last time. ''With less post boxes around, we want to make sure people are able to have their say.'' She said voting papers from any neighbouring district would be accepted in Waimakariri ballot boxes ''as they all end up in the same place''. Christchurch-based runs the elections for several councils around the country, including the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura districts. Nominations open on Friday July 4, with 35 positions up for grabs in Waimakariri - including mayor, 10 councillors and 24 community board members. In Hurunui, nominations will be accepted for mayor, 10 councillors and community board members in Hanmer Springs, south ward (including Amberley) and the Cheviot Licensing Trust. Nominations will also be accepted for two councillors in Environment Canterbury's North Canterbury constituency. Nichols said there were more than 80 candidates in the Waimakariri district in 2022, with contests required for all positions. ''It will be interesting how many come forward. We are certainly encouraging people from all walks of life and ages to stand for their community.'' She said she hoped recent publicity about online abuse of female politicians would not deter too many people from standing. ''It is certainly a factor for people to consider. Abuse can range from texts or emails, it can be keyboard warriors and in-person and none of it is acceptable behaviour. ''We hope it is a clean campaign with issues being debated, rather than personal traits.'' Nichols said there had not been too many issues with candidate nominations not complying with the rules in the past. Candidates need to submit a passport sized photo with their 150 word profile. The photo need to be of your head and shoulders, with no sunglasses, no hat and not accompanied by whānau, pets, friends or kissing a baby. Candidates must be a New Zealand citizen. You do not need to reside in the district(s) you choose to stand in - but your two nominees do. If you or your partner hold a contract of more than $25,000 for your local council you cannot stand, unless you have prior approval from the Auditor-General. Nominations close at 12pm on Friday August 1, and no late nominations are accepted. Once nominations close, you were on the ballot paper, Nichols said. Voting papers are posted out from September 9, with voting closing at 12pm on Saturday October 11. A telephone dictation service is available from the Electoral Commission to assist those who are unable to read the voting papers. In the event a candidate passes away after nominations close, as in the Port Waikato electorate in the 2023 general election, a by-election will need to be held. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Youth MP Wants Bus Routes Extended In North Canterbury
Article – David Hill – Local Democracy Reporter Waimakariri Youth MP Simone Bisschoff is keen to advocate for young people. A North Canterbury youth MP wants buses to go beyond Rangiora, including adding Oxford to a bus route. Rangiora High School year 13 student Simone Bisschoff has been selected as a youth MP by Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey. Simone said she is keen to engage with young people as she develops a project to work on during her term as a youth MP. She has narrowed it down to three options, advocating for bus services, more opportunities for driving lessons for young people and satellite campuses for Ara and the University of Canterbury in North Canterbury. ''I will be going to schools through May and engaging with young people to see which one they see as a priority.'' The Waimakariri Youth Council co-chair said the bus services had been discussed at youth council meetings. ''Young people have expressed concerns about the times the bus runs,'' Simone said. ''It takes one to 1.5 hours to get from Rangiora into the central city. ''And I want to see more bus routes added, because they don't go much further than Rangiora.'' Environment Canterbury (ECan) has plans to add more buses to the number one, Rangiora to Cashmere, bus route to increase the frequency, if it can get the funding from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. Submissions made to the Canterbury Regional Public Transport Plan, which is due to be adopted by ECan this month, also called for bus services to be extended to Amberley and Ashburton. Simone was born in South Africa, with her family later moving to Rangiora. She plans to study law at the University of Canterbury and said she is interested in ''doing something along the lines of politics''. Mr Doocey said he received a number of applicants for the youth MP role from Kaiapoi, Oxford and Rangiora, but Simone stood out. ''She is a self-starter. She has some clear ideas of what she wants to do and is keen to hear from young people. ''When I think about my own experience as an MP those are some of the key skills and attributes.'' Simone will attend the Youth Parliament in July, where she will get to sit in Mr Doocey's seat. ''She will have a front row seat close to the Speaker's chair and she will engage in a lot of Parliamentary activities,'' Mr Doocey said. While the Youth Parliament did not exist when Mr Doocey was younger, he said several of his Caucus colleagues had been been Youth MPs. ''You never know, it could be the start of a political career.'' LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
