Three months until election day

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The decreasing gap between frequent election polls means one thing — the general election is getting closer.

With three months to go until election day on October 14, six candidates are in the running for the two local electorates  — so far.

For the East Coast seat, sitting MP and Cabinet Minister Kiri Allan will be joined in the election race by Dana Kirkpatrick (National), Jordan Wallace (Greens) and Chris Robinson (DemocracyNZ).

Kiri Allanwon the seat three years ago for Labour after one term as a list MP.

For Ikaroa-Rawhiti, incumbent MP Meka Whaitiri is seeking re-election as the candidate for Te Pāti Māori.

The former Labour cabinet minister first won the seat in a 2013 by-election and resigned from the party in May.

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel  is Labour’s candidate for the seat.

Former Green Party list MP and Ikaroa-Rawhiti electorate candidate in 2020 Dr Elizabeth Kerekere is not standing for re-election.

She resigned from the Green Party in May and is serving out her term as an independent MP.

Advanced voting begins on October 2, or September 27 for overseas voters.

The election will become more noticeable to the public from August 12, which is the Gisborne District Council approved date from when election hoardings can be erected.

Last Friday was the beginning of the regulated period for election advertising expenses, although candidate nominations do not close until September 15.

Wednesday was the last day voters of Māori descent could choose to go on the Māori roll or general roll.

Māori can change rolls at any time except in the three months before an election.

Between March 31 and June 22, 11,835 people changed roll types – 6389 from the general roll to the Māori roll, and 5446 from the Māori roll to the general roll, according to the most recent figures released by the Electoral Commission.

There have been 1360 new enrolments on the Māori roll and 727 new enrolments on the general roll.