Te Arawa Partnership Board results released

A meet the candidates hui last month heard from those wanting to be voted onto the Te Arawa Partnerships Board

The Te Arawa Partnership Board Member election results have been released following an election process that saw nearly 3000 votes cast.

The 14 members have been appointed to the board out of 26 candidates who stood in the elections.

The voter turn out was just over 25 per cent.

Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick said today's election results for the Te Arawa Partnership Board bodes well for helping to achieve the Rotorua 2030 goal of an excellent partnership between the council and Te Arawa.

Provisional results show there were nearly 3000 votes cast compared with the 300 votes cast in the last Te Arawa Standing Committee election just over five years ago.

"The increased interest by Te Arawa people throughout the entire engagement process has been encouraging," she said.

"I know those leading the establishment of the partnership are generally pleased with how things have gone."

People had the option of postal or online voting.

"It's particularly pleasing to see that nearly a quarter of those who voted took the opportunity to vote online.

"It's a good indication of what could potentially be achieved if online voting is introduced at next year's local body election," Mrs Chadwick said.

"When you consider that in the last local body elections Maori voter turnout was only about 12 per cent this turnout is very good.

"Things are still on track to having the new Te Arawa Partnership Board in place in December."

The results are:

Koeke (1 Seat)
1. Te Uru o Te Whetu (Fred) Whata (elected unopposed)

Te Arawa Iwi & Hapu (6 Seats)
1. Eraia Kiel - 1456
2. Gina Mohi - 1413
3. Aneta Morgan - 1395
4. Potaua Biasiny-Tule - 1328
5. Te Taru White - 1245
6. Ngaroma (Mala) Grant - 1189
Other candidates
Raina Meha - 1188
Aroha Bray - 1163
Maramena Vercoe - 908
Michael Staite - 759
Harry H H dixon - 582

Ngati Whakaue (2 Seats)
1. Kingi Biddle - 1589
2. Ana Morrison - 1250
Other candidates
Rangitiaria Biddle - 756
Rene (Buncie) Mitchell - 731
Selwyn Insley - 528

Land Trusts and Incorporations (2 Seats)
1. David (Rawiri) Waru - 1582
2. Geoffrey Rolleston - 1558
Other candidates
Bella Te Wairemana Tait - 1390

Pan Te Arawa Entities (1 Seat)
1. Eugene Berryman-Kamp - 953
Other candidates
Alan Hamiora Skipwith - 904
Kahuariki Hancock - 661

Rangatahi (2 Seats)
1. Te Mauri Tait Kingi - 1808
2. Ngahuia Hona-Paku - 1525
Other candidates
Dallas Hawe - 1063

Key facts about the election process:
• 26 candidates stood for 14 seats
• Two 'meet the candidates' events were held with more than 170 attending
• Voter return was 25.46 per cent of eligible voters
• 23 per cent of those who voted, did so online
• The standing committee was established 22 years ago to provide a Te Arawa perspective.
• Since the last election in May 2010, it was made up of six elected iwi representatives, two council-appointed members and the mayor as chair.

Key facts about the election process:
•2,839 votes were received (25% of eligible voters)
•77% by postal vote and 23% by online vote
•Voting papers were sent to 11,153 Te Arawa descendants