Candidates confirmed for 2022 Local Body Elections

With nominations for the 2022 Local Body Elections now closed, the Waimate District Council has received a total of 15 nominations for Ward Councillors and two nominations for the Mayoralty.

Of those nominations, two of the four wards received the minimum number, meaning the candidates for the Hakataramea-Waihaourunga Ward and the Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward will be elected unopposed. These candidates are incumbent Councillors Colin Pankhurst, Sandy McAlwee and Tom O’Connor.

The Waimate Ward has a total of 10 candidates vying for four vacancies, while the Lower Waihao Ward has two candidates vying for one vacancy.

Meanwhile, Waimate businessman Rick Stevens will contest the district’s Mayoralty, standing against three-term incumbent Craig Rowley. Stevens has also been nominated as a Councillor for the Waimate Ward, along with John Begg, Jonathan Bird, Peter Collins, Julie Dee, Sarah Huggins, Peter Paterson, Tom Williams, Sharyn Cain and Fabia Fox.

Departing Councillors, stepping down at the completion of this term, include Miriam Morton, Sheila Paul and David Owen – all of whom have not sought re-election.

Official nominations for the 2022 triennial Local Body Elections in the Waimate District are:

Mayoralty (1 vacancy)
Craig Rowley
Rick Stevens

Hakataramea-Waihaorunga Ward (1 vacancy)
Colin Pankhurst

Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward (2 vacancies)
Sandy McAlwee
Tom O’Connor

Lower Waihao Ward (1 vacancy)
Bruce Murphy
Lisa Small

Waimate Ward (4 vacancies)
John Begg
Jonathan Bird
Sharyn Cain
Peter Collins
Julie Dee
Fabia Fox
Sarah Huggins
Peter Paterson
Rick Stevens
Tom Williams

Voting papers will be mailed to electors from Friday 16 September marking the opening of this year’s voting process, with voting officially closing on Saturday 8 October 2022 at midday.

All candidates have been invited to a Meet the Candidates evening at the Waimate Event Centre, scheduled to take place on Thursday 22 September from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

For further information, please contact:
Warwick Lampp
Electoral Officer
www.electionz.com
Email: iro@electionz.com
Phone: 0800 398 683