By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Ruapehu voters will head to the polls for six election contests this year, following strong interest in the Ruapehu District Council local elections.
The mayoralty, the General and Māori wards and all three community boards are being contested.
Four contenders are in the running for the mayoralty. Incumbent mayor Weston Kirton is being challenged by sitting councillors Lyn Neeson and Fiona Kahukua Hadley-Chase, as well as candidate Grant Lethborg.
Fourteen candidates are standing for six seats in the General Ward, and six are vying for three seats in the Māori Ward.
For the Ōwhango-National Park Community Board, seven candidates are standing for five seats. For Waimarino-Waiouru, there are 10 people contesting five seats, and eight candidates for five seats in the Taumarunui-Ōhura Community Board.
Hadley-Chase is standing for mayor, a Māori seat, the Taumarunui-Ōhura Community Board and also the Taihape Community Board.
Chief returning officer Warwick Lampp said a candidate can stand for multiple positions in a council election. If elected to more than one position for Ruapehu District Council, the higher position takes precedence. An elected representative can also hold an elected position in more than one council, he said.
Full list of candidates
Mayoral candidates (1 vacancy):
• Fiona Kahukua Hadley-Chase
• Weston Kirton
• Grant Lethborg
• Lyn Neeson
General Ward candidates (6 seats):
• Elise Adams
• Rodger Baker
• John Chapman
• Robyn Gram
• Gary Griffin-Chappel
• Viv Hoeta
• Rhonda Kingston
• Rabbit Nottage
• Luke Pepper
• Brenda Ralph
• Elaine Reid
• Sophie Stockbridge
• Nicoleen Wessels
• Peter Zimmer
Māori Ward candidates (3 seats):
• Marilyn Davis
• Fiona Kahukua Hadley-Chase
• Simon Hepi
• Channey Iwikau
• Kuru Ketu
• Korty Wilson
Ōwhango-National Park Community Board (5 seats):
• Gail Gray
• Anthony Gurr
• Eddie Marsters
• Simon O’Neill
• Marina Van Wyk
• Murray Wilson
• Peter Zimmer
Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board (5 seats):
• Jessie Archer
• Jonathan Findon
• Gary Griffin-Chappel
• Edna Hansen
• Kay Henare
• Luigi Hotter
• Colin Pakai
• Angel Reid
• Stu Robinson
• Emma Young
Taumarunui-Ōhura Community Board (5 seats):
• John Dryden
• Martin Fuller
• Fiona Kahukura Hadley-Chase
• Molly Jeffries
• Rhonda Kingston
• Brian Portland
• Sophie Stockbridge
• Oriwia Wanakore
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