With the noon, Friday, deadline looming there are plenty of gaps in candidate lists on Eastern Bay councils and community boards.

Two days are left to get nominations in and Whakatāne looks as though it will have six candidates for mayor.

Three have already been officially listed as of 4pm yesterday. These are Mark Inman, Philip Jacobs and Wilson James, though current Mayor Victor Luca and councillors Andrew Iles and Nandor Tanczos have indicated to the Beacon they intend to run for the position.

Mr Iles told the Beacon he had put his nomination forward yesterday, saying that experienced councillors understood the deadlines and what was required of them.

Local Government New Zealand chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said she would like to see voters have a wide range of candidates to choose from this October.

“Electoral officers are saying that overall candidate nomination numbers are generally on par with the same time last election.  

“We also know from past elections that many candidates choose to wait until the final week to submit their nominations.

“We strongly encourage candidates not to leave things to the last day, to allow time for information to be checked and any issues resolved,” Ms Freeman-Greene said.

Once candidates submit their nomination forms, it typically takes one to three days to become officially listed on the council website as the nominations need to be verified and processed by Electoral Services New Zealand for completeness and accuracy.

Four candidates were listed for the four Whakatāne-Ōhope ward vacancies.

These were Malcolm Whitaker, Dave Stewart, Carolyn Hamill and Julie Jukes. Lesley Immink has previously indicated to the Beacon that she will stand for the seat.

In the two Rangitaiki wards, constituents would appear to be satisfied with their current councillors as general ward councillors Gavin Dennis and Mr James and Māori ward councillor Tu O’Brien are currently standing unopposed.

No one appears to have been nominated in opposition to Mr Iles’ Te Urewera general ward seat either or in the Kāpu te Rangi and Toi ki Uta Māori wards currently held by Toni Boynton and Ngapera Rangiaho, respectively.

It can only be hoped that candidates for community boards are also leaving their nominations for the last minute with only one candidate currently for the six positions on Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board, one for Murupara and none for Taneatūa. The Rangitaiki Community Board is doing a little better with three candidates.

Noon of Friday, August 1, is also the deadline to for anyone wanting to vote in the election to enrol. Unlike the previous local election, which allowed voters to enrol right up to election day, the cut off for enrolling is the same as for nominations.

Whakatāne District Council chief executive Steven Perdia said every voice mattered.  

“Local government is where democracy gets real,” Mr Perdia said.

“These are the people deciding things about roads, parks, and community facilities and projects which ultimately determine rates.

“When you vote, you’re choosing who makes decisions about your daily life.

“When you stand as a candidate, you’re stepping up to be part of those crucial conversations.”

Ōpōtiki District Council candidate lists were also looking thin as of late yesterday.

Mayor David Moore is standing again for his position.

The only ward to have more candidates than vacancies is the urban general ward with former mayor Lyn Riesterer, and current councillors Barry Howe and deputy mayor Shona Browne vying for two seats.

One candidate, Maude Maxwell, was listed for the two seats on the Ōpōtiki Māori ward and no candidates were listed for the rural general ward (two seats) or Coast Māori ward (one seat).

The Coast community board, which has four vacancies, has two candidates listed.