NUMBERS across the King Country are down on the last Local Body Election.
VOTER turnout for the 2022 Local Body Elections continues to be low across the three districts of the King Country rohe –something that appears to be reflective of much of the rest of the country. As of yesterday, Ōtorohanga led with 27.48% of voters having returned their voting papers, a downturn on 32.66 in 2019’s election, just in front of Waitomo at 24.28% (39.30%). Ruapehu voters picked up after trailing at the weekend to split the two districts with 26.42 (32.38%) having sent in their voting papers. For Waitomo though, the difference is quite marked ¬– the returns at this time in 2019 were at almost 40%. The concern mayors have with the low voter turnout is the same across the board. “Seriously – you have to get out and vote if you want your voice to be heard,” Ōtorohanga mayor Max Baxter said. “We are being swamped with new regulations every month and to run a council effectively and well, residents and ratepayers need to be sure of who they are voting for,” he said. “If you haven’t, or won’t, get out and vote, then seriously – you cannot complain at anything the council may do.” Waitomo mayor John Robertson said: “Waitomo has the highest number of candidates it has seen for years, [which is] really good to see. Now it would be good to see high participation by voters. “It’s important, for this is the one time that residents decide those who represent them.” Ruapehu mayor Don Cameron had not commented by the time King Country News went to print. King Country-Taranaki MP Barbara Kuriger said: “We live in a democratic country which gives us the opportunity to have a say and I encourage the community to do that, [to] have interest in what is happening in the district. “The majority of the raft of regulations come from central government and local government often has the role of implementing them. “There are far too many regulations, too many boxes to tick. “The way we do things, needs to be simplified and planned closer to where implementation takes place,” she said.
