Tararua District elections: Five in the running for mayor, 24 want to be councillors

Twenty-four candidates want a seat on the Tararua District Council.

Five candidates are running for mayor in Tararua in what looks set to be a hotly contested local body election race.

All wards and community boards will be contested races – with 24 candidates in the running to be a Tararua District councillor.

There will be at least one new councillor in the Northern ward, with Kerry Sutherland opting not to run this time.

In the Southern ward there will be at least two new councillors, with Alison Franklin and Peter Johns not running.

Ernie Christison has put his name on the ballot and could make a return to local politics after walking out of a meeting and then resigning as a councillor seven years ago.

You can have your say on who represents your community by voting in the local elections from September 9 to October 11.

If you haven’t enrolled or need to update your address, you will now need to contact your council’s electoral officer, ideally before October 1.

The last day to enrol to vote is Friday, October 10.

Mayoral race

• Tracey Collis (incumbent)
• Scott Gilmore
• Evan Matthew Nattrass
• Michael Spence
• Steve Wallace

North Tararua Ward (4 Vacancies)

• Alison Amboy
• Susan Lyford
• Trev Moore
• Erana Peeti-Webber (incumbent deputy mayor)
• Thomas Scott
• Michael Spence
• James Walker
• Ron Wallace
• Steve Wallace (incumbent)
• Sharon Wards (incumbent)
• Dot Watson

South Tararua Ward (4 Vacancies)

• Hamish Blyth
• Ernie Christison
• Chris Corlett
• Scott Gilmore (incumbent and also running for mayor)
• Ethan Hindry
• Peter Johns
• Elisabeth Kennedy
• Mike Long (incumbent)
• Evan Matthew Nattrass (also running for mayor)
• Peter Naylor
• Mark Watson

Māori Ward: Tamaki nui-a-Rua (1 Vacancy)

• Naioma Chase (incumbent)
• Keshaan Te Waaka

Dannevirke Community Board (4 Vacancies)

• Alison Amboy
• Naioma Chase
• Ernie Christison
• Jono Harrison
• Terry Hynes
• Nicola Phillips
• Michael Spence
• Ron Wallace

Eketāhuna Community Board (4 Vacancies)

• Larissa Barclay
• Chris Corlett
• Mel Corlett
• Steen McGhie
• David Smith
• Pauline Wilson