4 October 2022
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Local election voter turnout
Enquiry
I'm writing a story about voter turnout as we approach the election.
Here's the convenient link: HERE
Can I please ask:
- Voter turnout so far [as at 2 Oct] is 16.32 per cent, compared with 18.22 per cent at the same point last election, 22.82 per cent in 2016 and 26.16 in 2013. Does the council consider this cause for concern? Do you think there will be a big boost right before election day?
- What has Rotorua Lakes Council done to promote the election and encourage people to vote? How much has it spent on that? Does it need more funding (for eg from the Government) to boost public awareness?
- Has the council received reports of voters not receiving their ballots in the mail? Has this increased compared to former years (noting I realise the council is not responsible for this, but it has likely received reports anyway). What has the council advised those people?
- Do you have any idea why the turnout is dropping year on year, from your understanding of the community?
- Any other salient points the council would like to make about voting or voter turnout.
Any additional info about voting that might be useful to the public (such as voting locations, an explanation of special voting etc) would also be most welcome.
For Mayor Chadwick:
Voter turnout so far is 16.32 per cent, compared with 18.22 per cent at the same point last election, 22.82 per cent in 2016 and 26.16 in 2013. However despite the higher turnout at this point in 2013, the overall return was actually lower than it was in 2019. Overall returns were 43 per cent in 2013, almost 46 in 2016 and just over 45 per cent in 2019. Data: HERE
-What is your view of the voter turnout to date? Does it concern you? Why / why not?
-Why do you believe it is important to vote in local elections? What do you think are the impacts if voter turnout is low?
-Voter turnout in 1989 was around 56 per cent, but last election it was closer to 40 per cent. What do you think has changed?
-What do you think needs to be done to lift voter turnout?
Response
From Deputy Electoral Officer Rick Dunn:
Overall Rotorua total voter turnout has remained relatively stable for the past few local elections and as at yesterday (3 October), daily returns were on a par with 2019 at this stage. [See HERE]
People can drop off voting papers and/or make special votes right up to midday on Saturday and we encourage everyone who is eligible to vote to have their say on who represents them at council.
Our aim is always to increase voter participation and considerable effort goes into promoting the elections including encouraging people to stand, reminding people to enrol, then encouraging people to vote and providing information about how they can do so. This year Rotorua voters have had an additional way to engage with candidates, via the (s)Elect app, and a range of candidate events have been hosted by community organisations.
Council has promoted the elections via its website, has advertised in local papers, on radio, on our city buses, bus shelters, billboards, via social media and digital channels, and in our customer centre and library, and the 2022 Pre-election Report was delivered to homes as well as being made available online.
We can’t speculate on why people may choose to not vote but anecdotally there seems to be plenty of interest in this year’s election and right now we are tracking the same as in 2019.
We often do get a flurry of votes during the final days although it’s not possible to predict how many.
We have had reports of people not receiving their voting papers. This occurs every election for various reasons and these people can make special votes, which has been promoted on council channels.
Special voting is a quick and easy process. People can simply come in to the Civic Centre and we’ll get them sorted.
People not yet enrolled can still enrol – at vote.nz – but must do so by Friday, October 7 and can then obtain voting papers and submit these at Rotorua Lakes Council by midday on Saturday, October 8.
Spend to date on election marketing/promotion: $114,567
Mayor Chadwick provided the following comment:
While on a par with other elections at this point I urge people to make their vote count. We will have change and need a majority to vote who and what they want as a Council team and leader.
This is more vital now than ever as we face big challenges and can only do this when we have a strong team.
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Media: Newsroom
Topic: Three Waters reforms 'Better Off' funding
Enquiry
Hi, a quick question set – hoping your media rep can get back to me today with a line attributed to the mayor or a senior staffer?
1/ Has the council decided to accept the “Better Off” funding offered by Govt as part of the Three Waters package?
2/ If so, was that been worked into the council budget? If not, has that been communicated back to DIA/Govt?
3/ If it’s being accepted, what are the (main) services/outcomes the council intends to spend it on?
4/ Does acceptance of this funding imply that the council agrees to the Three Waters reforms, or is resigned to them – or what?
I’d be super grateful if you could get back to me today with a short, attributed response.
Response
From Rotorua Lakes Council DCE District Development Jean-Paul Gaston:
Rotorua Lakes Council elected members resolved to accept $8.05m allocated to the council in the first tranche of “Better Off” and subsequently, in July, resolved to apply the funding to stages 2 and 3 of the redevelopment of the city’s Aquatic Centre, noting that acceptance of the funding did not bind the council to support the Three Waters reforms. Rotorua Lakes Council does not support the Three Waters reforms proposal as it currently stands, identifying a number of issues as central to its position [see HERE] and submitting on these during recent select committee hearings on the reforms.
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Media: NZME (Rotorua Daily Post and BOP Times)
Topic: Potholes
Enquiry
We are doing another regional story on pot holes and there have been concerns raised about a few roads including Te Ngae Rd. I understand Kelly only done a story just over a month ago. Do you have any update to the below comments that our readers should be aware of? Do you have any data that you should possibly share with us on the work RLC has done on potholes?
Thank you, my deadline is, 3.30pm. I know this is tight but if it changes to allow more time I will let you know.
Council infrastructure and environmental solutions deputy chief executive Stavros Michael said weather patterns caused potholes, such as extreme rainfall penetrating road surfaces and creating hydraulic pressure due to traffic loading. That then pops up a small chunk of seal creating a surface dip.
Michael said icy temperatures were also to blame when water in the voids of the road surface becomes ice which then expands and pushes up the road surface. Residential construction works and trenching works could also cause them.
"Most road surface damage is due to water ingress inside the road pavement and we've had a lot of rainfall in recent months. Rainfall events are becoming more frequent and more severe and generally, we can expect more road damage during winter months when we tend to have more rain."
Response
We provided the following in response:
we don’t have anything new to add to what was previously provided in August. You’re welcome to use this information again and our full response is available on our website HERE.
We informed the reporter we had requested updated pot hole repair data to reflect work that’s been done since 25 August [when we last provided information] but that it would not be possible to meet today’s deadline.
NOTE: reporter subsequently extended deadline to the following day (5 October) when we provided the following updated potholes repair data:
Updated number of pothole repairs for 2022 calendar year (up to and including 3 October 2022):
Urban: 560
Rural: 479
TOTAL: 1039
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Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Slips on roads
Enquiry
Just checking in early for a update on the slips in the network please.
Specifically the Hamurana Rd and SH5 Ngongotaha slip please.
Any other slips been reported overnight?
Response
Reporter was referred to HERE on Council’s website for the latest updates