By Moana Ellis, Local Democracy Reporting
Candidate nominations closed for this year’s Horizons Regional Council elections with 32 people putting their names forward for 14 available seats.
Horizons’ electoral officer Warwick Lampp said that was a significant increase from 2022, when 22 nominations were received.
The strong turnout means most constituencies will go to election.
“We are pleased with the number of candidates and are looking forward to seeing voting outcomes,” Lampp said.
Lampp said the candidates span a wide age range and a variety of backgrounds, giving voters diverse choice.
Two constituencies will not be contested. Sitting councillors Nikki Riley (Ruapehu) and Te Kenehi Teira (Tonga Māori) have been elected unopposed.
Lampp said voters will have more return options this year, with voting bins to be placed at key locations around the region.
“People will be able to put their completed voting papers in those bins, which will be emptied regularly, instead of having to find a mailbox.”
Lampp said it was especially important to participate this year, as Horizons was also holding a referendum on the future of its two Māori constituencies alongside the council elections.
Full list of candidates
Raki Māori (1 vacancy):
• Jim Turuhia Edmonds
• Tāwhiao Te Rangi McMaster
• Soraya Peke-Mason
• Elijah Pue (Te Pāti Māori)
Whanganui Constituency (2 vacancies):
• Ben Fraser
• Phill Haynes (Independent)
• Alan Taylor
• Martin Visser
Tararua Constituency (1 vacancy):
• Sally Dryland (Independent)
• Grace Pettit
Manawatū-Rangitīkei Constituency (2 vacancies):
• Nigel Barker
• Bruce Gordon
• Gordon McKellar (Independent)
• Carl C Netzler (Independent)
Palmerston North Constituency (4 vacancies):
• Daniel Fordyce (Independent)
• Charles George (Independent)
• Fiona Gordon
• Emma Gregg
• Munu Karki
• Jackie Lindsay (Independent)
• Shareel Nand-Mishra
• Jono Naylor
• Wiremu Te Awe Awe
• Peter Wells (Affordable Rates)
Horowhenua Constituency (2 vacancies):
• Hamish Easton
• John Girling
• Josephine Gutry
• Donald Haynes
• Luka Jansen (Independent, Together We Decide Wisely)
• Pou Sefesi
As the number of nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies:
• Nikki Riley was declared unopposed as the member for the Ruapehu constituency; and
• Te Kenehi Teira was declared unopposed as the member for the Tonga Māori constituency.
Awa FM – Te Reo Irirangi o Whanganui
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