Partnership votes coming in

Te Arawa Partnership hearings at Rotorua Lakes District Council

Nearly 2000 votes have so far been cast to decide who will be chosen for the Te Arawa Partnership Board.

Voting closes next Thursday for the 14 seats on the board that will work alongside the Rotorua Lakes Council.

After a year in development, more than 1800 submissions and five days of hearings, the council voted eight-five to adopt the partnership model this year.

A spokesman for the returning officer, Electionz.com, said yesterday 1920 votes, representing 17.3 per cent of eligible voters, had been received. Of those votes, 346 were submitted online with the remaining 1574 via post.

The board will consist of a cross-section of Te Arawa including koeke (elders), rangatahi (youth), Ngati Whakaue, Te Arawa hapu and iwi, Maori land trusts, incorporations and pan entities.

Under the partnership, two members of the board will be appointed and given voting rights to the council's two key committees, the Strategy, Policy and Finance, and Operations and Monitoring, and will have voting rights. However the council will be able to veto those appointments if it did not think they would be suitable.

The credentials of the nominees have been heard at two meetings, held at Te Papaiouru marae and the GHA Centre.

Te Arawa Partnership working party member Arapeta Tahana earlier told the Rotorua Daily Post the candidates comprised a diverse group of people.

"There's a good sense of competition and it gives our people options on who will represent them," he said.

Mr Tahana said it was important for Te Arawa members to vote because it was the first time there would be a collective voice for the iwi in the council and it was a way to work in a more "united fashion" in making decisions for the region.

Te Arawa Partnership vote:

* Returning officer, Electionz.com has received 1920 votes so far

* Only people registered with the Te Arawa Lakes Trust and are over the age of 18 can vote

* Registration with the trust is open until the voting closing date

* Voting closes Thursday, October 29