Central ward by-election candidate meeting - Sun Oct 4

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

If you live in Christchurch Central, you may be able to vote in two different elections. One on 16 October. And another one on 17 October.

Here’s an example.

Sunita Gautam is standing for the Labour Party in the Central ward. Some people are wondering whether Dr Duncan Webb is retiring.

Not everyone knows that there are two different elections: one for a community board and one for parliament.

The October 16 election is a by-election for the Central ward of the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board. This is to replace Sally Buck, who resigned a few months ago and has since died.

The October 17 election is the general election. Everyone who is enrolled can vote in that one. One of the general electorates is called Christchurch Central.

It only sounds similar but the city ward and the general electorate have nothing to do with one another.

Totally different boundaries. Different responsibilities. And of course different candidates.

The timing was a coincidence. The by-election date was set when the general election had been scheduled for September 19. But the general election then got postponed by four weeks, hence they are now almost on top of one another.

There are seven candidates and they will all be at Tūranga (TSB Space / Tautoru on level 1) this Sunday October 4 at 3pm.

Members of some central city residents’ organisations are helping to organise and run the event.