Hawke's Bay Regional Council has extended the election period for the current Hastings By-election due to the current lockdown.

Postal votes can now be accepted until midday on Friday, September 24. 

Leeanne Hooper, HBRCs Electoral Officer, said the decision was made after considering the duration of the current Alert Level.

“We’ve pushed out the date to receive postal votes until 24 September to ensure that electors have every opportunity to cast their vote,” Ms Hooper said.

This decision is in line with the provisions of the Local Electoral Act 2001.

New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 4 and will continue at this level until 11.59pm on Tuesday, August 31, at which time Hawke’s Bay and most of the rest of the country will move to Alert Level 3, with the exception of the Auckland and Northland regions.

The by-election is required to fill an extraordinary vacancy for the Hastings constituency of the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and was triggered by the recent resignation of chairman and councillor Rex Graham.

Nominations to be elected to the Hastings seat were received for Tom Belford, Jacqueline Taylor and Joe Walding-Karaitiana.

But shortly after nominations were received last month, Joe Walding-Karaitiana withdrew. However, his name cannot be removed from the ballot sheet. 

Voting papers were due to be delivered to those currently enrolled in the Hastings constituency between August 19-24. 

For more information visit: https://www.hbrc.govt.nz/our-council/elections/vote/

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