Shane Walsh
The election elephant in the room has been low voter turnout and councillors are wanting to know why?
Dean Taylor celebrates being elected councillor with daughter Kirsten Eden, wife Robyn and son Ryan. Photo: Jesse Wood
New Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Ward councillor Shane Walsh said everyone should have their say.
“I thought this year, that the percentage would be higher because of the huge rate increases that people have been facing,” Walsh said.
“I thought people would be thinking, we need you need to vote. We need to have a say. But it didn’t occur.
“I’m lost for words in terms of why that would be the case.
“I’ve learned that in Australia, it’s compulsory to vote. If you don’t vote, you get fined.”
Fellow newbie Dean Taylor also said it’s distressing and shared Walsh’s remarks.
“I was hoping that with the amount of interest, rising costs, dissatisfaction with some of the things that are happening, and the rate increases over the last couple of years, that people would be highly motivated to vote. But it seems not and it’s a bit distressing,” Taylor said.
“If your voting papers are still in your letterbox right now, being eaten by snails, you obviously haven’t voted. We need to find out why.”
Taylor said he thinks it’s part of not being involved in the community.
“One of the things I noticed when I was delivering my leaflets, was I was putting leaflets in letterboxes that were already full of other stuff – voting papers, mail, newspapers, pamphlets – jamming letterboxes, why aren’t people aren’t collecting that?
“It worries me, because if you’re not collecting your mail, if you’re not looking at what’s coming to your house, then you’re not invested in your community.
“Why aren’t they invested in the community? Why are people living in Te Awamutu and Kihikihi, and they’re not invested?
“Are we not giving them what they want, or don’t they care? We need to work that out.”
Paula and Shane Walsh on election day. Photo: Jesse Wood
