Helping hand for election hopefuls

Nominations open tomorrow for anyone wanting to stand for the local council, the licensing trust, lands trust, Montfort Trimble Foundation or Wairarapa District Health Board, with nomination papers available from the Masterton District Council office along with a free information booklet.

Nominations open on Friday, July 19, and close at midday on Friday, August 16.

To help new candidates understand the process and new legislation around the electoral process, an information evening is being held in the Frank Cody Lounge at the Masterton District Council on Thursday, July 25, at 7pm.

Electoral officer Warwick Lampp said candidates would find out everything they needed to know about standing.

"There are a lot of changes to the legislation people need to know about. They will get more information than they will from the handbook," he said.

Mr Lampp will be advising candidates on the "do's and don't's" of campaigning.

Candidates are urged to lodge their nominations early, so that any potential issues can be sorted out before the deadline.

A $200 deposit is required when nominations are lodged, which will be refunded if the candidate attracts sufficient votes. Candidates must present evidence of their deposit and all other required information at the time their nomination is lodged, including a profile statement and photograph if they wish the information to be provided to voters with their voting papers.

Masterton District Council has two wards - urban with four elected representatives, and rural with one elected representative. In addition, five representatives and the mayor are elected at large across the district.

Meanwhile, Mr Lampp advises residents to ensure they are on the electoral roll, as voting papers will be sent to all residents in the district from September 20.

The papers must be returned to arrive with the electoral officer no later than midday on election day, Saturday, October 12.

Wairarapa registrar of electors Philip Parkes reports about 2000 electoral enrolment forms have been returned to his office with updated details on changes of address or occupation and, in some cases, names.

If you are aged 18 and older and have not received confirmation of your details for the roll you can enrol on the website www.elections.org.nz or go to the council officers or the district library for forms, or the Registrar of Electors office on Level 2 in the Gawith Burridge building, in Queen St.

Mr Parkes urged residents to remember to sign the forms before they send them in.

There have been some boundary changes.