The 2028 local body elections could be run by the Electoral Commission if wide-sweeping changes recommended by a Local Government NZ electoral reform working group are adopted.
View of the Hustings in Covent Garden – Vide, The Westminster Election, Novr 1806. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
But for this year’s election, two private companies are running the show on behalf of councils: ElectionNZ.com, which is overseeing 54 elections including Waipā, Waitomo and Ōtorohanga; and Election Services, which is managing 22, including Hamilton and Waikato.
In the last election, each vote cost Waipā ratepayers $9.23, paid to the Christchurch-based ElectionNZ. That figure looks set to remain unless the council’s own advertising campaign delivers an unexpected surge in voter turnout.
Waipā has budgeted $284,000 for the 2025 local elections — not including staff time, salaries, or overheads. Of that, $239,000 will go to ElectionNZ.
The remaining funds will cover advertising and marketing, materials and services, training, and catering.
Of the $30,598.60 allocated to advertising and marketing, most is going to a national media company as part of a digital advertising package that also included print ads in the now-closed Cambridge Edition community newspaper.
Meanwhile Ōtorohanga has budgeted $51,000 for ElectionNZ and $3000 in King Country News.
In Waitomo, the council has budgeted $72,000 – $27,000 of it to ElectionNZ – the rest in King Country News, the council’s own community newsletter and about $600-$700 on radio.
Digital media costs for both councils are free and provided on their websites, Antenno and social media channels.
The News has requested a breakdown of the Waipā advertising spend under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA) — information the council has already provided to others and which has been shared publicly.
The council has yet to decide whether the portion of the advertising budget previously allocated to the Edition will be redirected to other print outlets or used for additional digital advertising.
Good Local Media editor Roy Pilott said Good Local Media was the only media which has consistently scrutinised the council over the last three years, and readers knew it. He said it would seem rather strange if the council did not regard The News as an obvious choice for advertising.
“It’s thanks to our other advertisers – who support us week after week – that we are able to provide the coverage we do. It will be interesting to see how the council finally cuts its advertising cake.”
SIDE BY SIDE
Catching up at Karāpiro: from left, Clare St Pierre, Mike Pettit and Susan O’Regan at the community celebration. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Susan O’Regan, Mike Pettit, and Clare St Pierre have sat around the Waipā District Council table together for the past six years – but that’s about to change.
All three are standing for mayor. O’Regan and Pettit are making all-or-nothing bids, while St Pierre is also contesting the Pirongia-Kakepuku ward seat she’s held since 2013.
Her chances of retaining it are strong. She’s up against Better Waipā’s Les Bennett, who lives in Karāpiro, and Ngāhinapōuri resident Naomi Pocock. Bennett may have hurt his chances in the parochial ward by also standing for the Maungatautari Community Board – on the opposite side of the district.
Between now and election day, the three mayoral candidates will appear at various functions and debates, making their case to voters.
We wish them all good luck – and a clean fight.
