Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule has announced that he will be leaving the mayoral office on June 23, and taking an unpaid leave of absence until he resigns on August 28.
Mr Yule was selected as the national candidate for the Tukituki electorate in February this year, and re-affirmed today his commitment to stay in office long enough to see out the Board of Inquiry process around the Havelock North water contamination.
Councillor Adrienne Pierce, who was last month selected as the National candidate for Palmerston North will be resigning on the same date and also taking unpaid leave of absence, he said.
"Adrienne and I will be unpaid for five months and the $72,000 savings from that will be re-allocated to the costs of holding a by-election."
For the vacant mayor and councillor positions, calls for nominations will open on August 31, closing on September 28, just days after the general election is held.