Warwick Lampp says there are quite a few Māori Wards around the country that only have one candidate. Photo / NZME
The race for council seats is on with nominations confirmed for this year’s local body elections and multiple mayoral contenders around the region.
In Whanganui, incumbent Andrew Tripe will face councillors Josh Chandulal-Mackay and Peter Oskam joined by Gregory McPhee.
There are 23 nominations for 10 seats in the General Ward and five for two seats in the Māori Ward.
General Ward candidates are Philippa Baker-Hogan, Jason Bardell, Glenda Brown, Josh Chandulal-Mackay, Julian Emmett, Ross Fallen, Awhi Haenga, Mike Hos, Tracey Jarman, Sandra Kyle, Michael Law, Gregory McPhee, Charlotte Melser, Michael Organ, Rob Oscroft, Peter Oskam, Scott Phillips, Jay Rerekura, Tony Sundman, Rob Vinsen, Robin Westley and Azian Z.
Māori Ward candidates are Kiritahi Firmin, Julie Herewini, Geoff Hipango, Hayden Potaka and Phil (Bear) Reweti.
In 2023, the council voted 8-5 to introduce a Māori ward for October’s election, then reaffirmed the decision 11-2 in September last year.
Regional election officer Warwick Lampp was pleased with the number of nominations in Whanganui.
“There are quite a few Māori wards around the country that only have one candidate, so they are running uncontested,” he said.
“I guess there is a bit of uncertainty around it.”
A referendum to decide the future of Māori wards will run alongside this year’s election.
For the Whanganui Rural Community Board, there are nine nominations.
However, only the Whanganui subdivision will be contested.
Kiritahi Firmin, Jenny Tamakehu, Daryn Te Uamairangi and David Wells are running for two seats.
Jack Bullock, Brian Doughty and Quintin Handley will make up the Kai Iwi subdivision (three seats), and Charlie Anderson and Bill Ashworth will represent the Kaitoke subdivision (two seats).
In 2022, Whanganui voter turnout was 46.44%, up from 44.17% in 2019.
Whanganui District Council democracy services manager Anna Palamountain said turnout was always a challenge for councils, but this year the aim was to get to 50%.
“We did some work recently, touching base with hard-to-reach communities to explain what voting is and encourage them to enrol,” she said.
A special vote is required for those not enrolled by August 1.
“People who enrol to vote from now on have to come and do a special vote, which means coming in and seeing the council staff.
“It’s very easy. You just don’t get your papers in the mail.”
Horizons Regional Council has two Whanganui seats, which will be contested by incumbent Alan Taylor, Martin Visser, Ben Fraser and Phill Haynes.
Nikki Riley is elected unopposed to Horizons’ Ruapehu seat, with Bruce Gordon, Gordon McKeller, Nigel Barker and Carl Netzler competing for two seats in Manawatū-Rangitīkei.
There are four mayoral candidates in the Rangitīkei District - incumbent Andy Watson, David Christison, John Hainsworth and Simon Loudon.
The Rangitīkei District’s Northern Ward has three candidates, Diana Baird, Peter Kipling-Arthur and Jeff Wong, for two seats, and the five Central Ward seats are being contested by eight candidates - Justin Adams, Alan Buckendahl, Christison, Fi Dalgety, Sandra Field, John Hainsworth, Bryan Hastings and Dave Wilson.
In the Southern Ward, Graham Jenkins, Graeme O’Fee, Bryan Rowe and Paul Sharland will contest two seats, with Coral Raukawa and David Yates the candidates for the Tiikeitia ki Tai (Coastal) Ward seat.
Tracey Piki Te Ora Hiroa will be elected unopposed in the Tiikeitia ki Uta (Inland) Ward.
Rangitīkei District Council chief executive Carol Gordon said she welcomed the strong response to this year’s local elections, which reflected a healthy and engaged democracy.
“Local government is going through a period of significant change, and putting your hand up for election is no small undertaking,” she said.
“It is encouraging to see individuals who are clearly passionate about their communities, willing to lead and prepared to meet the challenges ahead.”
There are also four candidates for the Ruapehu mayoralty.
Incumbent Weston Kirton is up against councillors Lyn Neeson and Fiona Kahukua Hadley-Chase, and Grant Lethborg.
There are 14 candidates for Ruapehu’s General Ward (six seats) - Elise Adams, Roger Baker, John Chapman, Robyn Gram, Gary Griffin-Chappel, Viv Hoeta, Rhonda Kingston, Rabbit Nottage, Luke Pepper, Brenda Ralph, Elaine Reid, Sophie Stockbridge, Nicoleen Wessels, and Peter Zimmer.
Ruapehu’s Māori Ward (three seats) will be contested by Channey Iwikau, Korty Wilson, Hadley-Chase, Marilyn Davis, Simon Hepi and Kuru Ketu.
Incumbent Phil Nixon is up against Clem Coxhead for the South Taranaki mayoralty, with Cheryl Luke-Maraki elected unopposed in the Te Tai Tonga Māori Ward, and Leanne Horo and Caroline Waiwiri contesting the Te Kūrae Māori Ward.
Mark Bellringer, Karen Cave, Steffy Mackay and Tim Taylor are running in the Eltham-Kaponga General Ward (two seats).
Mark Northcott and Brian Rook are unopposed in the Pātea General Ward, and Janet Fleming, Aarun Langton and Bryan Roach are contesting the Taranaki Coastal General Ward (two seats).
Te Hāwera General Ward’s five seats will be contested by Andy Beccard, Heather Brokenshire, Raquel Cleaver-Pittams, Ngawai Hernandez-Walden, Te Aroha Hohaia, Diana Reid, and Garth Weir.
Palamountain said a community day in Whanganui would be organised for people to enrol and vote at the same time, along with a series of pop-up events.
“During the voting period [September 9 to October 11], our election hub and customer service will be manned so we can take special votes there as well,” she said.
“For people with voting papers, there will be 16 bins around the community.”
Voting papers will be delivered to households from September 9 to September 22, with voting open until noon on election day, October 11.
Official results across the four districts will be announced between October 14 and October 22.
Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.