2010 is election year for local government. This October elections will be held in Ashburton District for:

·         Ashburton District Council

·         Methven Community Board (Methven urban residents only)

·         Canterbury District Health Board

·         Ashburton Trust

There will be no election this year for the Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury).

The voting period commences on Friday 17 September 2010 and the voting documents will be posted out to all qualified electors between Friday 17 and Wednesday 22 September 2010.

All returned voting documents must be received by the Electoral Officer no later than 12 noon on Saturday 9 October 2010.

The Electoral Officer for Ashburton District is:

John Rollinson

Ph. 307-7742

johnr@adc.govt.nz

Putting Your Name Forward - Nominations for Elections

Enrolling as an Elector

Voting Period

Council Representation

Community Board Representation

Further Information

Putting Your Name Forward - Nominations for Elections

Nominations for the above positions open on Friday 23 July 2010 and must be made on the appropriate nomination paper for each position, available from the relevant Electoral Officer. 

Completed nomination documents must be received by the relevant Electoral Officer no later than 12 noon on Friday 20 August 2010.  Each nomination must be accompanied by a deposit of $200 incl gst, payable by eftpos, cash or cheque.

Candidates may submit a candidate profile statement and photograph for sending out with voting documents to electors.  The requirements for profile statements and photos are set out in a candidate handbook which is available with the nomination papers.

Canterbury District Health Board candidates must also submit a Conflict of Interest Statement with their nominations.  Requirements for the Conflict of Interest Statement are included in the candidate handbook for the DHB.

Candidate Workshops

Ashburton District Council is holding workshops for prospective candidates in this year’s local government elections on:

For further information on standing as a candidate visit the elections website www.elections.org.nz, the Local Government New Zealand website www.lgnz.co.nz or contact your electoral officer.

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Enrolling as an Elector

Any eligible person may apply to enrol as a residential elector up until 4pm on Friday 20 August 2010. Electors may enrol or amend their enrolment details on the Residential Electoral Roll by:

·              Completing an enrolment form available at Post Shops, Public Libraries or the Council offices

·              Calling 0800 ENROL NOW (0800 36 76 56)

·              Visiting the Elections website (www.elections.org.nz).

Electoral Rolls

Preliminary electoral rolls for the above elections can be inspected at the following locations during normal office hours from Friday 23 July 2010 to Friday 20 August 2010:

Updates to the preliminary electoral roll close at 5 pm on Friday 20 August 2010.

Enrolling as a Ratepayer Elector

If you own a property and pay rates in Ashburton District you are able to vote for council elections as a ratepayer elector.

Applications for registration as a ratepayer elector are to be made on the non-resident ratepayer elector enrolment form available wherever copies of the electoral rolls are displayed and must be returned to the relevant City or District Council Electoral Officer before 5 pm Friday 20 August 2010.

Special Voting Facilities

If you are not going to be in the district during the election period you can vote using a special vote.

Special votes may also be claimed by electors who have lost, spoilt or destroyed their ordinary voting documents which they have received in the post. Special votes may also be claimed by persons who have applied to be enrolled but who have not received their ordinary voting documents in the post.

Special voting documents may be obtained during normal office hours from Friday 17 September 2010 until 12 noon, Saturday 9 October 2010 from -

Ashburton District Council Offices, 

5 Baring Square West, Ashburton
Phone:   03   307 7700

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Voting Period

The voting period commences on Friday 17 September 2010 and the voting documents will be posted out to all qualified electors between Friday 17 and Wednesday 22 September 2010.

All returned voting documents must be received by the Electoral Officer no later than 12 noon on Saturday 9 October 2010.

Progressive Processing of Voting Documents

For this year’s triennial elections the above organisations have resolved to process the returned voting papers throughout the three week voting period.

ASHBURTON DISTRICT COUNCIL REPRESENTATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 2010 LOCAL ELECTIONS

Local authority elections throughout New Zealand are held every three years, and are conducted by postal vote.

All resident electors and non-resident ratepayer electors whose names appear on the electoral rolls are eligible to vote in their local government elections.

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Council Representation

Council will comprise 12 members elected from three wards, and the Mayor, elected by the district at large.

Ashburton District councillors are elected from three wards reflecting the following identified communities of interest:

The estimated population that each member will represent is as follows:

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Community Board Representation

The district has one community board, the Methven Community Board, which is representative of the serviced residential and commercial areas of Methven.  (Map C)

The Methven community elect five members who will are joined on the community board by the two Western Ward Councillors.

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Further Information

Copies of the Council’s resolution and maps setting out the areas of the proposed wards and community board may be viewed and obtained from Council’s Administration Office, 5 Baring Square West (PO Box 94), Ashburton.

Any queries regarding the Council’s decision should be directed to the Council’s Electoral Officer, John Rollinson, 03 307 7700.

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