Democracy is alive and well in Wairoa with the district in the top 10 of New Zealand’s voter turnout for this month’s local body election.

Wairoa’s final voter return was 53.2%, above the national average, and higher than the 2019 election of 51.4%.

Wairoa District Council Chief Executive Kitea Tipuna said the response certainly speaks to a very healthy democracy in Wairoa. “Traditionally Wairoa people have enjoyed making their vote count. We are very fortunate that people in our community want to be involved with what our future looks like.

“Voting is the Wairoa way and the fact our voter percentage in this recent election was slightly higher than in 2019 demonstrates how seriously our people take their right to vote and speaks to a very healthy democracy in Wairoa.

“Wairoa’s results also demonstrate an engagement and connection between our communities and the Wairoa District Council.”

In comparison voter returns for Napier was 39.54%, Hastings 32.95%, Central Hawkes Bay 43.89% and Gisborne 43.4%.

Mr Tipuna said moving forward, Local Government New Zealand wants to work with central government to review how elections can be delivered more consistently and impactfully, including communication, engagement, the practicality of postal voting, and things like access to ballot boxes in more remote parts of the country to make voting more accessible in the local elections in 2025.

27 October 2022

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