Akaroa Community Board by-election to be held

A by-election to fill an extraordinary vacancy for the Akaroa Community Subdivision on the Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū Banks Peninsula Community Board will be held in June.

The by-election was triggered by the death of Deputy Chair Nigel Harrison in February.

Mr Harrison had been a member of the board since 2019 and represented the Akaroa community subdivision.

The Local Electoral Act 2001 requires that if a vacancy arises on council or a community board more than twelve months before the next triennial election, an election must be held.

Christchurch City Council Electoral Officer Warwick Lampp says Council’s Chief Executive has given notice of the extraordinary vacancy, and the by-election will be held on Friday 12 June.

“Nominations for the vacancy will open on Thursday 5 March and close at 12 noon on Thursday 2 April. If more than one nomination is received, a by-election will be conducted by postal vote.”

If only one nomination is received, a voting process will not be held.

If an election is required, voting will commence on Monday 11 May and close at 12 noon on election day, Friday 12 June.

Nomination forms and a candidate information sheet are available online or from Te Hononga Christchurch City Council Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street. The preliminary electoral roll will be available for viewing from 5 March at Civic Offices, Akaroa Customer Service Hub and Akaroa Library.

All candidates must be New Zealand citizens and enrolled on the Parliamentary residential electoral roll.

Candidates must be nominated for the position by two people who are enrolled on the Akaroa community subdivision electoral roll.