Waikato District Council is imploring members of its district to enter this year's local body elections.
According to a Waikato District Council spokesperson, only 13 nominations have been received for 32 available seats on Waikato District Council community boards. Credit: Waikato District Council. Photo: Waikato District Council
It has recorded early low nomination numbers, with a council spokesperson revealing only three of the district's wards have enough candidates to hold an election.
The deadline for all local body election nominations is this Friday afternoon.
Local Democracy Reporting understands only one nomination has been received for each available seat for the new Māori Wards, and 13 nominations for 32 available seats on the district's community boards.
Not one community board has enough candidates to fill all available seats.
Current Waikato District Council Mayor Allan Sanson is not running this year due to his pending retirement, but is encouraging his constituents to make a stand for democracy.
"I have been proud to serve as the Mayor of the Waikato District for the past three terms. It is not an easy job, but I can promise you that it is a rewarding one," he said.
"I am aware that some people may be being put off standing by the current environment that we are operating in with uncertainty around government reforms and increasing public scrutiny and often criticism that things could be done better.
"If you want to be a decision maker in your community then there are no two ways about it, you need to have a seat at the table where those decisions are made."
Current Waikato District Council Mayor Allan Sanson is encouraging Waikato constituents to take up the opportunity and nominate themselves in the local government elections before this Friday's deadline. Photo: Waikato District Council
Sanson said the responsibility came with many challenges, but knowing that he was making a difference for his community made it worthwhile.
According to council records, four nominations had been received for the mayoralty, one nomination for the Awaroa-Maramarua General Ward, two for the Huntly General Ward, two for Newcastle-Ngāruawāhia General Ward, three for Tamahere-Woodlands General Ward, one each for the Tuakau-Pōkeno General Ward, Waerenga-Whitikahu General Ward and Western Districts General Ward.
The Whāingaroa General Ward had received two nominations.
However, the number of nominations received for the district's community boards remained low with one board receiving no nominations towards its six seats.
Huntly Community Board had six seats available and had received two nominations, Ngāruawāhia had received five nominations to its six seats, Rural-Port Waikato North Subdivision had received one, Rural-Port Waikato South Subdivision had received no nominations, Raglan had received two nominations to its six seats and Taupiri had received three nominations.
Tuakau Community Board had six available seats and was yet to receive a single nomination.
A council spokesperson said democracy was a system of government that was meant to represent the entire population.
But a lack of nominations for the community to select from, posted a "serious democratic problem".
"We need candidates who represent our communities and are ready to stand up for the issues and opportunities that resonate with them, and we also need active voter participation to choose who they deem to be the best candidate for the role.
"However, for communities to be able to select which candidate they align with best, there needs to be multiple names to choose from, and this is where our lack of nominations becomes a serious democratic problem."
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