Do your kids want a future with their Happy Meal? It’s on the menu this Saturday

Do your kids want a future with their Happy Meal? It’s on the menu this Saturday​

Grab your keys, wallet and voting papers for the New Plymouth District Council elections when you head out the door this Saturday - we’re bringing ballot boxes to where you are, whether you're giving your candidates the thumbs up with Mr Four Square or sticking it to the man at PAK’nSAVE.​

​“Pop-up voting boxes are coming to supermarkets, The Warehouse Bell Block and you’ll even be lovin’ it at Macca’s in New Plymouth, where you can vote while you order a coffee or meal,” said NPDC Marketing, Communications and Design Lead Ben Kohlis.​

“Time’s running out to have your say with the polls closing at midday on 8 October. This is your big chance to have your say on who gets to choose how to spend our $185 million budget and what happens to NPDC’s $3.5 billion in assets, so don’t miss it.”​

As well as returning your voting papers by post, you can also put them in one of the many NPDC sites around the district, and some large organisations such as Taranaki Base Hospital are hosting pop-up events.​

Voters can also see where candidates stand on some of the big issues on NPDC’s Know Your Candidates webpage, which has had more than 130,000 views.

Go to npdc.govt.nz/vote22 for full candidate list, profiles and how to vote in this year’s election.
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From 9am to 3pm on ‘Vote Day’ Saturday 1 October you can pop your voting papers in ballot boxes at:​

• PAK’nSAVE
• New World Merrilands​
• New World Inglewood​
• Four Square Ōākura​
• Four Square Urenui​
• Four Square Ōkato​
• Countdown Spotswood​
• The Warehouse Bell Block​
• McDonald’s, Eliot St​
• Or drive through at the NPDC Civic Centre, Liardet Street.​
  
  

Ballot boxes are located at these NPDC sites until 12 noon on Saturday 8 October (12 noon):​

• NPDC Civic Centre, Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm​
• Ōākura Library, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11am – 5pm, Tuesday and Saturday 9am – 1pm​
• Puke Ariki Library, Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am – 5pm​
• Puke Ariki Museum, Monday – Sunday 10am – 5pm​
• Waitara Library and Service Centre, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am – 5pm, Tuesday & Thursday 9am – 6pm, Saturday 9am – 12noon​
• Inglewood Library, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9am – 5pm, Wednesday and Friday 9am – 6pm, Saturday 9am – 12noon​
• Bell Block Library, Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 5pm, Tuesday, Thursday 9am – 6pm, Saturday 9am – 12noon​
• Urenui Library, Tuesday 9am- 2pm, Friday 12noon – 4pm​
• TSB Showplace, Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm.​
• Todd Energy Aquatic Centre, Monday - Friday 5:30am - 8:15pm, weekends and public holidays 7am - 6:45pm​
• Govett-Brewster Art Gallery, Monday – Sunday 10am – 5pm​

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The positions voters will decide:​​​

• NP District Mayor​​​
• Six Councillors in Kaitake/Ngāmotu ward (for voters in on the role in New Plymouth city to Ōkato)​​​
• One Councillor in North Ward (Waitara up to Waitomo District Council border)​​​​
• One Councillor in the Te Purutanga Mauri Pūmanawa (Māori ward)​​​​
• Five district wide councillors. (These councillors would represent the whole district)​​​
• Four positions on each of the Inglewood, Kaitake, Waitara and Puketapu-Bell Block community boards.​​​

By the numbers:​​​

• 77 nominations received for the 2022 election​​​
• 4 candidates are running for both mayor and a councillor role​​​
• 2 people running for our first Māori ward Councillor​​​
• 58 - the number of candidates in the 2019 local body election​​​
• 3% voter turnout in 2019​​​

Timeline:​​​​

• 8 October at 12 noon: Voting closes midday​​​​
• 8 October from 12 noon: Preliminary results​​​​
• 13 – 19 October: Declaration of results.​​

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