Voting papers due in mail soon

Northlanders can have their say in local body elections from Friday when voting papers start arriving around the country.
There are 163 people standing in October's local body elections in Northland for seats on the Whangarei, Far North and Kaipara District Councils, Northland Regional Council and the Northland District Health Board.
The race in the Far North is the hottest contest with 59 candidates standing there.
Thirty-one are standing for the WDC, 27 for the KDC, 25 for the NRC and 21 for the NDHB.
Local body elections are a postal ballot and voting papers should arrive in letterboxes from Friday.
Voting forms have to be filled in and returned in the prepaid envelope by noon, October 9.
Provisional election results should be known by the end of that night, but the full, official results will not be declared until October 14.
All candidates have to file their election returns - details of how much they spent on their campaign - by December 10.
And while money can't buy you love there's no guarantee it will get you into a seat of power, with strict limits on the amount "wannabe" local body politicians can spend on their campaigns.
The number of people in the local government area determines the amount that can be spent.
Under the Local Electorate Act, 2001, for a population up to 4999 the maximum that can be used on election expenses is $3500; for 5000 to 9999, $7000; 10,000 to 19,999, $14,000; 20,000 to 39,999, $20,000; 40,000 to 59,999, $30,000; 60,000 to 79,999, $40,000, 80,000 to 99,999 $50,000 and 100,000 to 149,000 $55,000.
All limits include GST.
A person standing in the Bream Bay Ward, which has a population of 11,600, can spend a maximum of $14,000 on their campaign.
But if the same person was also standing as mayor of Whangarei, which has a population of 78,970, the spending limit rises to $40,000.
The limit includes donations received and money spent on joint campaigning.
Candidates must make an expense return by December 10.
Those failing to file a return face a fine of up to $1000. If elected to office they would also face a fine of $400 for every day past the due date their return had not been filed.

IMPORTANT LOCAL BODY ELECTION DATES:
Delivery of voting papers: from September 17.
Appointment of scrutineers: by noon, October 8.
Removal of election signs: by midnight, October 8.
Close of voting: noon, October 9.
Preliminary results: as soon as practicable after close of voting, October 9.
Official declaration: October 14.
Return of expenses form: by December 10.