Hot contest for councillors' seats

The nominees are in.

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples will be elected unopposed but the councillor positions will be hotly contested.

Nominations for a role on the South Wairarapa District Council and the three community boards closed at noon yesterday.

The public will have a choice of 14 candidates vying for nine councillor positions in the Featherston, Martinborough and Greytown wards.

There will be at least one fresh face on the council as Featherston councillor Porky Sexton steps down after 14 years.

There are five contenders for the three Featherston councillor positions.

Mr Sexton's sister Helen "Darkie" Barrow is going for a councillor seat and a community board member seat in Featherston.

Tim Watson and Colin Olds are also joining the race for a Featherston councillor spot.

Last election, Mr Olds came fourth behind Mr Sexton.

All incumbent councillors are running with the exception of Mr Sexton.

Interest in being a councillor for the Greytown ward appears to have picked up.

There are five contenders for three spots, unlike the 2010 election when there was no election for the positions.

Martinborough has four contenders including Bob Petelin, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2010.

This election, more people are stepping up to influence decision-making on a community board level.

In 2010, only one board - Greytown - had more nominees than openings.

This year all the boards have more nominees than openings.

The Featherston board has attracted seven nominees for four roles - last year there was no election for this ward.

There are no elections for council or board roles if there are fewer or equal numbers of nominees to openings; then nominees are automatically elected unopposed.

In 2010, voter return was 50 per cent (3499 voting papers), the lowest turnout since 1989.