Still time to vote in Far North and Kaipara byelections

As of midday yesterday 32.5 per cent of voters in the Kaipara District's mayoral byelection had returned their papers. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Voting closes on Saturday for Far North and Kaipara byelections.

Voting in the two Northland district council byelections closes at midday on Saturday with the results expected to be announced later that day.

As of midday yesterday 32.5 per cent of 15,900 eligible voters in the Kaipara District's mayoral byelection had returned their papers.

That byelection follows first-term mayor Greg Gent's sudden, unexpected resignation in mid-November.

About 26 per cent of the eligible 19,200 electors had also voted in the Far North's Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Ward which required a byelection after council members Willow-Jean Prime was elected to Parliament last September on the Labour Party list.

Kaipara corporate services manager Ben Hope said hitting the 40 per cent eligible voter mark by end of play on Saturday would be considered a good turnout.

Local body byelections traditionally failed to excite the general public, with mainly voters who were ''very engaged'' in local politics responding.

Mr Hope said an indication of low byelection turnouts was in Hastings just before Christmas where a mayoral byelection drew a 39 per cent voter response.

Both Northland's byelections are based on the single transferable voting method.

Running for the seat of Kaipara mayor are Stephen Soole, Brian McEwing, Craig Woollam, Bruce Rogan, Christian Simon, Jason Smith, Jay Tane and Peter Wethey.
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The candidates for the BOI—Whangaroa ward seat are Harko Brown, David Clendon, Peter Gill and Kelly Stratford.