Election Candidate Briefing evening to detail what it takes

Want to help shape the future of Invercargill but don’t know exactly what you’re getting yourself into? Invercargill City Council is hosting an evening that will deliver all the information on what it takes to run for Council and what it means to be an Elected Member.

The Election Candidate Briefing evening will be held on Wednesday, 11 June at 5.30pm in the Civic Theatre’s Drawing Room.

Deputy Electoral Officer Michael Morris said it was an opportunity for anyone thinking about running to get all the information they need about the elections process - from being nominated and campaigning, to what a day in the life of an Elected Member looks like.

“It’s not just about attending Council meetings and voting on issues, there is a wide range of other tasks Elected Members must be prepared to do.

“The session is designed to give anyone interested in running the key information they will need to know. We will talk about Invercargill City Council, Environment Southland and Invercargill Licensing Trust, and the requirements of standing for each of these, including the rules around signage and what happens if you are elected. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions and get an understanding of what to expect.

The Invercargill City Council is made up of 12 Councillors and one Mayor. There are also five positions within the Bluff Community Board. Council has four standing Committees: Infrastructure and Projects; Community Wellbeing and Regulatory; Finance and Policy; and Risk and Assurance.

“We are at a very interesting point for Invercargill City Council. We are up against some challenges, and we know there are a lot of thoughts about how Council should be operating. I encourage anyone interested to come along and learn more so they can then take the next steps to campaign for a seat on Council,” Morris said.

“Election years are always an exciting time, and standing is a fantastic way of showing how interested you are in our city.”

Nominations open on Friday, 4 July and close at 12pm on Friday, 1 August. To be nominated, you must be over the age of 18, a New Zealand citizen, and enrolled on the electoral roll. You do not need to live in the area you want to represent, but this needs to be declared in your candidate profile statement. You will need two people to nominate you, who must be over 18 and on the Parliamentary Electoral Roll within the area you want to represent as a candidate.

You can officially stand in the Local Body Elections by completing an official nomination form, together with details of your two nominators, and a $200 deposit, which may be refunded depending on the election result.

Voting opens on 9 September and closes on at 12pm on 11 October.

More information about the Local Body Elections can be found on the Elections page of the Invercargill City Council website or by emailing michael.morris@icc.govt.nz.