A very short summary about the local government elections, local
bodies in Christchurch and voting in the local body elections. You
can find more information on the Christchurch City Council site:
www.ccc.govt.nz/Elections/2001/
What are the Local Government elections?
Every three years we get the chance to vote for our local politicians.
These triennial elections occur in October and are two years after
the previous parliamentary elections (and one year before the next).
New Zealand is divided up into 74 Territorial Local Authorities
(TLAs) of which Christchurch City Council is one. Each city or region
elects a Mayor and a number of councillors.
In addition to the mayor, Christchurch elects 13 City Councillors from 7 wards across the city. In addition there are eight Community Board areas each consisting of one ward area. Each ward elects five Community Board members. The two successful council candidates for each ward are automatically appointed Community Board members at the commencement of the term.
Then comes the Regional Council. There are many regional Councils in New Zealand and each covers the area of several TLAs and their focus is environmental matters. The Canterbury Regional Council covers and area from the Waitaki Catchment in the South to Kaikoura in the north, the main divide in the west and out to sea in the east. Because of this environmental focus the Canterbury Regional Council has re-branded itself in the last three years to give the public a better idea of what it does so you may well know of it as Environment Canterbury. However for legal reasons you will see the Canterbury Regional Council on your voting papers.
In Christchurch you have the opportunity to vote for five members elected at large across the city for the Canterbury District Health Board (there are also two members elected from the rural wards). Unlike all other local body elections, the Health Board election is done by an STV vote whereas the others use the first past the post voting system.
