Election disappointment spurs Te Arawa into voter enrolment push

Sir Toby Curtis. PHOTO/FILE

An iwi leader says the push will start now to get Te Arawa enrolled ahead of the next local body election - after the three candidates chosen to represent Te Arawa all missed out in this year's election.

Te Arawa Lakes Trust chairman Sir Toby Curtis said they would not wait until closer to the next election - instead starting this year.

"Every marae we visit, every tangi, every function on every marae we will be making sure people are registered."

A hui facilitated by the Te Arawa Lakes Trust was held in August to vote for three candidates to be Te Arawa representatives in the Rotorua Lakes Council election - choosing Rotorua Youth Centre worker Bobby Mihi Howard, Te Arawa FM general manager David (Rawiri) Waru and New Zealand Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia general manager Eraia Kiel.

However none were successful.

Ms Howard was the lowest polling candidate of those who stood, while Mr Kiel polled the highest of the three selected candidates.

Sir Toby said he was some distance away from feeling comfortable there were enough Te Arawa people enrolled to vote.

"Planning for the next election starts now."

He said online voting may have made a difference in getting people voting.

"As far as I am concerned the quality [of the three candidates] was equal if not better than a number of those now.

"What is more important now is that our people are registered and vote when it is time."

He said it was also important Te Arawa had their say on council issues through submissions.

Kaumatua Anaru Rangiheuea said the fact none of the three were elected came "as a bit of a surprise for me".

"There were a lot of Maori willing to be councillors."

Mr Rangiheuea said to have none of them get in was disappointing.

"We met to decide on our support of the three but they didn't make the cut."

Mr Rangiheuea agreed non-voting was a big issue.

"We have the problem of non-voters. It is going to take a long time before we can change that culture."

The hui where the three candidates were selected also decided they would throw their support behind mayor Steve Chadwick and the councillors who voted in favour of working in partnership with Te Arawa.

They were Dave Donaldson, Karen Hunt, Trevor Maxwell, Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, Charles Sturt, Tania Tapsell and Janet Wepa.