Local body elections are struggling to spark interest in spite of candidate numbers rising. Photo: Marika Khabazi / RNZ
Local body elections are struggling to spark interest in spite of candidate numbers rising. Councils govern so much of our lives, but it seems we do not care who is in charge.
It is the most grassroots level of our democracy - the place where potholes get fixed, parks are built, and local voices matter.
But this year's local body elections are proving to be a sobering snapshot of just how uninspired and underwhelmed Kiwis feel about their councils.
While candidate numbers are up, six one-term mayors are leaving office; some seats are going unchallenged, meaning power is being achieved without even a campaign; and in some cases positions have had no applicants.
"It does show a bit of a crisis in local democracy, when these are important roles, we need them, we need people in those roles, we need people to represent the public and make decisions, and we can't get them," says Newsroom Pro managing director Jonathan Milne, who has been covering local body elections extensively.
Local Government New Zealand says 3526 candidates will vie for roles across 78 councils. That's actually the highest number seen in New Zealand's past six elections. LGNZ released the figures on Wednesday.
"We see the numbers as a strong sign that people are more engaged in this year's local elections in the past," says LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene.
But that depends on how you look at the numbers.
There are 1465 individual elections in total - the exact number of those uncontested has not been confirmed yet but about half a dozen will require by-elections because there are fewer candidates than the number of places.
"It's not ideal," says Milne. "You would kind of like a democracy to be hard fought and hard won. You'd like options to be available to voters, and that's not the case."
He says the health of local democracy is vital for the country.
"I think this election is one of the most important we've seen in a generation for local government. I think it's existential. I think the future of local government, as we know it, is at stake.
"Because right now, it's not sustainable, and we need to elect people who can help us navigate through a very difficult three years, six years, nine years to find a new model of governing at a local level, which we all agree is important."
This year, 16 mayors across the country have decided not to stand for re-election - six of them first-termers. Two mayors, in Hurunui and Manawatū, will be elected unopposed, but that's down from seven mayors in 2022.
Campbell Barry, the outgoing two-term mayor of Lower Hutt and the vice president of Local Government New Zealand, tells The Detail it is a less-than-ideal situation.
"I think we need to do a deep dive into this," he says. "I can't recall any situation where we've had that many first-term mayors not stand for a second term.
"I think [the reasons for that] would be quite different in each location. I think you look at the experience of [Wellington's] Tory Whanau, who has been quite open about the reason she's not standing again for mayor.
"I think it would be worth having a deep dive with them individually to just understand and unpack those reasons and see if we can learn anything from it."
Both Barry and Milne agree that postal voting is past its prime and question if it is time to bring back polling booths to boost voter participation.
"There are some practical reasons why I think voter turnout is low," Barry tells The Detail. "The postal system that we have. Good luck finding an 18-year-old who receives letters, who's going to then be motivated to work out how to vote in this upcoming election.
"And even if you want to vote by post, you then have to find a post box or else the orange bin that the council might put out to be able to put it in. So, I think there are some practical things we can do."
The last day for posting votes by mail is 7 October, while election day is 11 October. But LGNZ is hoping the bigger candidate numbers will lift the 40 percent turnout from last time.
Both Barry and Milne agree that a boost in pay for candidates would potentially lure more to put their hands up for the next election in three years' time.
So, what is the money?
A councillor's salary can range from $14,274 in the Chatham Islands to more than $100,000 in Christchurch and Auckland.
For a mayor, the salary can range from about $59,000 to more than $300,000 in Auckland.
If you're on the Methven Community Board though, the pay is $2995 a year, while in Mataura, it is $2288.
And community board members in Auckland hover around the $50,000 mark, even though that is a full time job and you are available round the clock.
"No question that [a pay rise] would help," says Barry.
Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.
You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook
