KEY POINTS:
Aucklanders are being urged to vote with just four days remaining and a dismally low turnout at the local body elections.
A niggling mayoral campaign in Auckland City, compared with the big rumble in 2004 between John Banks and Dick Hubbard, is one reason voters have not got
excited this year.
Other theories abound, from the focus on the rugby World Cup and the voting period cutting across school holidays, to the growing number of tenants distanced from rates bills.
In 1996, 69.2 per cent of Auckland households owned their house and received a rates bill. This figure dropped to 63.8 per cent last year.
Whatever the reason, apathy is widespread across the country. In Auckland City, the number of votes is down 30 per cent. At the last election 48.4 per cent of registered voters returned their ballot papers in the country's largest city.
Manukau and Waitakere cities are well behind 2004 figures but in North Shore the turnout is running slightly ahead of three years ago when only 35 per cent of registered voters took the time to cast a ballot.
North Shore Mayor George Wood said there were no big issues on the campaign trail. Unlike previous elections, where public meetings were well attended, some meetings this year had more candidates than members of the public.
Mr Wood also believed progress on wastewater and transport projects, like the upgrade of Glenfield Rd and the North Shore busway, made for a contented community.
In Waitakere, where the vote is down 31 per cent on the same time in 2004 when the final turnout was 35.8 per cent, local campaigners ran an email campaign at the weekend.
More than 5000 organisations were contacted to spread the message: "Return those voting papers."
Labour Party volunteers also began a telephone campaign in Waitakere yesterday to encourage people to vote.
Votes must be in the hands of returning officers by noon on Saturday.
Even if voting papers are post-marked before that date, they will not be counted after the cut-off time.
Dale Ofsoske, an electoral officer for five territorial councils in Auckland, believed the school holidays and rugby World Cup had been a distraction.
Mr Ofsoske offered another reason. People lived busy lives and regarded local government as a low priority.
Mr Hubbard, who trailed Mr Banks by 8.5 points in a Herald-DigiPoll survey last month, said it was hugely important for people to exercise their democratic right and vote.
Mr Hubbard said the law of unintended consequences could come in if the vote dropped down to the mid-30s.
"If people are not voting because they are reasonably happy with the status quo, they could suddenly find that the status quo could change unexpectedly on them," Mr Hubbard said.
Auckland City mayoral candidate Alex Swney said new and young voters had a unique opportunity over the next few days to influence the shape of Auckland.
He said they could have an important voice in how the waterfront developed over the next two decades.
"My message to them is grab that envelope and vote."
Mr Swney, who wants all waterfront land not used for port business enjoyed by Aucklanders within 10 years, said voters had the chance to influence planning changes over the next three years.
"Do we want a commercially driven waterfront with shops, offices and apartments lining the water's edge for the benefit of just a few?" he asked.
"Or do we want generous green public spaces filled with vibrant energy, art and culture juxtaposed with business?"
