Calling all changemakers this election year

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has launched Generation Change / He panoni ā reanga, its 2022 election campaign, encouraging people from all walks of life to play their part either by standing for Council or informing themselves about those who are and voting.

Chief Executive Officer John Holyoake says Generation Change / He panoni ā reanga is a chance for people to influence the future of the District and help put diverse perspectives at the decision-making table to deliver outcomes that meet the needs of the whole community.

“Our community and its needs are diverse, with a population spread evenly across rural and urban areas, almost half our population aged between 30-64 years old, and growing Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities.  

“As a Council, we care about the communities we work with and know that we need to keep moving to meet the ever-changing needs of our people. We think the people making decisions should reflect that too – and this is why we’re inviting our varied and talented business community to consider running in this year’s elections.”

Stand for Council

Council has a direct impact on the vision, economic development, and talent attraction of our District. Elected members are responsible for setting the direction of the Council and are involved in developing the Annual and Long-Term plans, which set its priorities and projects for the next 10 years.

Council is encouraging business owners to bring their unique perspective to the table by considering standing, to help positively grow the region. Prosperous and resilient local economies provide good living standards for communities and contribute to New Zealand’s economic prosperity. Internationally, there is growing recognition of the crucial role local government plays in developing, attracting and retaining local economic activity to create business friendly environments (Business Friendly Councils report, LGNZ, 2014).

To make it easier to access the information you need, Western Bay of Plenty District Council has launched a dedicated elections website - generationchange.nz - with details on how to stand for Council and what being a Councillor or community board member involves. Candidate information sessions are being hosted across the District at 6-7pm on 26 and 27 July 2022 at Katikati and Te Puke libraries respectively.

Council is also exploring how to improve flexibility and accessibility for its new Councillors, to make it easier for those with full-time jobs or other commitments to be an elected member.

Stay informed and vote

Learning about this year’s candidates and making an informed vote is just as essential.

Councillors make decisions on the infrastructure and services that enable business to operate effectively. By learning about the priorities of candidates, you can make an informed vote and have a say in who is going to represent you and your business’ needs.

To support our community in staying informed, Council is hosting live candidate debates across the District, which will also be livestreamed and published on generationchange.nz

The debates run from August 29 – September 1 across the District in the following order: Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward, Kaimai Ward, Te Puke-Maketu Ward, and Mayoralty.

“It’s all about making it as easy as possible for our community to access what they need to get involved and feel confident in their voting decision,” says John.

“We’re exploring options to make it even easier to vote, as well as how residents can find out where candidates stand on matters that are most important to them and their community.

“I encourage you to look at yourselves, your friends, colleagues and whānau, and ask if you have the skills that can bring new perspectives and vision to our Council. By having a range of perspectives, we can have better discussions creating better outcomes for the community that meet everyone’s needs.”

Visit generationchange.nz for more information.