Increased cost of postage pushes up bill for election

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

The cost of the Gisborne District Council election of 2022 has been determined at $217,000 plus GST for 35,000 electors, or $6 plus GST for each elector.

The figures came from Gisborne electoral officer Dale Ofsoske in a report prepared for the council.

The cost of the 2019 election was $5.63 plus GST per vote.

Mr Ofsoske, of the Auckland-based Election Services, attributed the rise in costs to a late and unbudgeted rise in postage.

He said the election was conducted successfully without any issues or concerns of significance.

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But there were issues  the council could consider.

The council can change the electoral system, and the way of voting ,for the next local body election in 2025, but must advise the public of any such change by September 19 this year.

The 2022 election was the first time Gisborne District Council used the electoral system consisting of the Tairāwhiti General Ward (eight councillors) and the Tairāwhiti Māori Ward (five councillors),

It was also the first time the council used the STV (single transferable voting) system.

There was no Hauora Tairāwhiti election because of the advent of Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the abolition of individual health boards.

The council actively promoted the new wards and STV to fulfil the requirement under the Local Electoral Act to increase voter participation. Young people and Māori were both targeted as both are under-represented in voting statistics.

Channels of engagement included Facebook, the council’s website (including videos), local radio, posters and the Gisborne Herald.

For the first time ballot boxes were placed in Wharekahika, Te Araroa, Ruatorea, Tokomaru Bay, Uawa, Te Karaka and Matawai with a duly declared electoral official in each location.

Voter turnout, as across the rest of the nation ,was poor.

Gisborne voter turnout was 43.4 percent, or 14,738 voters  who returned their ballots, out of 33,948.

That compared to a Gisborne turnout  of 50.1 percent in 2019 and 48.55 percent in 2016.

A total of 354 special votes were received, of which 289 or 81.6 percent were valid.

The average national turnout last year was 45.58 percent.

In Gisborne, 42 nominations were received for 12 council vacancies and the mayoralty, compared to 38 in 2019.

Parliament’s Justice Select Committee will undertake its normal inquiry into the conduct of local government elections.

Public submissions closed on February 14.

The inquiry will look into the 2022 local elections, with particular reference to:

■   low voter turnout

■  the provision of election services by private organisations, with particular reference to special voting, provision of ballot papers, complaint processes, accountability for local elections and postal voting (including security of ballots and whether postal voting is an effective method of receiving votes)

■ the age of eligible voters (with reference to lowering the age of eligible voters to 16 years).