10 October 2022
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Local election voter turnout
Enquiry
Just wanted to check-in and see if a representative of the council had a comment to make about low voter turnout?
A comment or response that could answer the question below would be of great help to our readers' understanding:
- What factors have contributed to the lower voter turnout this election?
Response
In initially responding to acknowledge we had received the reporter’s enquiry, we provided the following information:
Voter return in Rotorua has actually increased.
If you haven’t already checked the Preliminary Results yet you’ll find those HERE on Council’s website.
Final results for 2019 had voter turnout at 45.15%. Voter turnout as at Preliminary Results for this year is at 46.46% (excluding special votes) so we’re already higher than 2019 with Final Results still to come.
We subsequently sent the following from Acting DCE District Leadership and Democracy Greg Kieck:
It’s very pleasing that we have achieved a lift in voter turnout this year in Rotorua with a higher turnout than the past three local elections.
The Preliminary Result has us at 46.46% voter return with the Final Result still to come. The Final Result for 2019 was 45.15% voter turnout, for 2016 was 45.99% and for 2013 was 43.44%.
Council puts a concerted effort into promoting the election and voter participation and anecdotally there certainly appeared to be a high level of interest.
Our goal is always to increase voter participation and while we achieved that, we would obviously like to see it even higher. Why people don’t vote and how we increase participation in future will be a discussion point for us locally, as it already is nationally.
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Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Complaints about election signage
Enquiry
I'm working on a story about complaints about election signs, a bit of a round up.
Could you please tell me:
- How many complaints the council received about signage / election / candidate promotion over the election period, and when
- What the complaints were, who the complaints were from, and about whose signs
- What action was taken on each and if it was complied with
- A general comment on how compliant candidates were this election, perhaps compared with last election.
Response
The following information and comment was provided:
See information in table below – this is the same information provided to RDP reporters who have asked about this previously so we’ve updated the table for you. See also comment below.
Rotorua Lakes Council Deputy Electoral Officer Rick Dunn:
We don’t have figures for previous elections but anecdotally the number of complaints received about election signs this year was on a par with previous election periods.
Most complaints this year related to size and height of signs and signs located on road reserves which is not permitted.
All candidates were contacted regarding any non-compliance and the matter was rectified in all cases, either by adjustments being made or signs being removed.
2022 Local Election - Signage Complaints
No. | Date complaint received | Candidate whose sign was complained about | Location of sign | Reason for complaint | Action |
1 | 12 Aug | Fletcher Tabuteau | Te Ngae Rd (container) | Size – over 3m² & 3m above ground | removed |
2 | 12 Aug | Fletcher Tabuteau | Te Ngae Rd (container) | Size – over 3m² & 3m above ground | removed |
3 | 12 Aug | Fletcher Tabuteau | Te Ngae Rd (container) | Size – over 3m² & 3m above ground | removed |
4 | 12 Aug | Fletcher Tabuteau | Te Ngae Rd (container) | Size – over 3m² & 3m above ground | removed |
5 | 18 Aug | Kalaadevi Ananda | Awatea Ave | Location – on road reserve | relocated |
6 | 14 Aug | RDRR | Reporoa 3820 Broadlands Rd | Location – on road reserve | removed |
7 | 14 Aug | Karen Barker | Bluff Club Waikaukau Rd | Location – on road reserve | removed |
8 | 18 Aug | Fletcher Tabuteau | Stembridge Rd Ngongotaha | Size – over 3m above ground level | mitigated |
9 | 21 Aug | Karen Barker | Cnr Tumunui & Corbett roads | Location – on road reserve | relocated |
10 | 22 Aug | RDRR | Cnr Devon St | Location – on road reserve | removed |
11 | 25 Aug | Kalaadevi Ananda | 5a Hilton Rd (cross lease section) | Front section doesn’t want sign at road end of shared driveway | Approval sought and given |
12 | 26 Aug | RDRR | By Ngongotaha bridge | Location – on road reserve | relocated |
13 | 26 Aug | RDRR | Kaharoa Rd | Location – on road reserve | removed |
14 | 5 Sept | Fletcher Tabuteau | Hemo Gorge cnr SH5 & SH30 Hemo | Placement interfering with other candidate’s sign. | relocated |
15 | 8 Sept | Gregg Brown | SH5 – Red Stag | Higher than 3.7m. Blown over. | removed |
16 | 12 Sept | Kalaadevi Ananda | Pegasus Dr | No permission to erect sign | removed |
17 | 15 Sept | Gregg Brown | Cnr. Peace & Fenton Sts | Location – on road reserve | relocated |
18 | 18 Sept | Gregg Brown | Cnr. Peace & Fenton Sts | Location – on road reserve | relocated |
19 | 23 Sept | Trevor Maxwell | Koutu Cnr Digital sign | Size - over 3m² & over 3m from ground | Taken down |
20 | 27 Sept | Trevor Maxwell | Koutu Cnr Digital sign | Size - over 3m² & over 3m from ground | Taken down |
21 | 6 & 7 Oct | Don Paterson | Various | Illegal, on power poles | removed |