| Election Name: | 2016 Rangitikei local elections |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 2013 Rangitikei local elections |
| Previous Year: | 2013 |
| Next Election: | 2019 Rangitikei local elections |
| Next Year: | 2019 |
| Election Date: | 8 October 2016 |
The 2016 Rangitikei local elections were held across the Rangitikei District of Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, between 16 September and 8 October.[1] These elections were for the offices of Mayor of Rangitikei, eleven members of the Rangitikei District Council, four members each of two community boards, two members of the Horizons Regional Council and seven members of the Whanganui District Health Board; these elections were part of the New Zealand-wide local elections.[2] Postal ballots will be issued to all registered voters.
The incumbent mayor was Andy Watson,[3] who on 9 June announced his intention on seeking re-election.[4] First past the post (FPP) was to be used for all elections except the District Health Board elections which used single transferable vote (STV).[5] [6]
The previous elections took place in October 2013 and the following will take place in October 2019.
Following are the key dates for the local elections:[7]
| Date | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July | Nominations open for candidates. | |
| 12 August | Nominations close at noon. | |
| 17 August | Election date and candidates’ names publicised by electoral officers. | |
| 16–21 September | Voting documents delivered to households. Electors can post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted. | |
| 8 October | Polling day — all documents must be at the council before voting closes at noon. Preliminary results (i.e. once all ordinary votes are counted) will be available as soon as possible afterwards. | |
| 13–19 October | Official results (including all valid ordinary and special votes) declared. |
See main article: 2016 Rangitikei mayoral election. The incumbent Mayor of Rangitikei was Andy Watson, first elected in 2013.[3] [8] Watson sought re-election[4] [9] and contested the election along with community patrol chair George London and civil engineer Rob Snijders.[10]
Incumbent mayor Watson was declared re-elected on 13 October 2016.
The Bulls ward elected two councillors. The incumbent councillors were Tim Harris and Rebecca McNeil.[1] [11] Harris and McNeil both sought re-election.[12] [10]
Both incumbents lost re-election to new candidates Platt and Dunn.
The Hunterville ward elected one councillor. The incumbent councillor is Dean McManaway, the deputy mayor.[1] [11] McManaway, who was elected unopposed in 2013, was elected unopposed for a second consecutive time in 2016.[10]
The Marton ward elected four councillors. The incumbent councillors were Cath Ash, Nigel Belsham, Mike Jones and Lynne Sheridan.[1] [11] Ash, Belsham and Sheridan sought re-election; Jones retired from politics.[12] [10]
Belsham, Sheridan and Ash were all re-elected; Dave Wilson was elected.
The Taihape ward elected three councillors. The incumbent councillors were Richard Aslett, Angus Gordon and Ruth Rainey.[1] [11] All three incumbents are seeking re-election.[10]
All three incumbents were re-elected.
The Turakina ward elected one councillor. The incumbent councillor is Soraya Peke-Mason.[1] [11] Peke-Mason, who was elected unopposed in 2013, was elected unopposed for a second consecutive term.[10]
The Ratana Community Board is composed of four members. The incumbent members were Maata Kare Thompson, Nadine Rawhiti, Bjorn Barlien and Tama Biddle.[13]
Thompson was re-elected and Rawhiti lost her seat. Charlie Mete, Charlie Rourangi and Thomas Tautaurangi were also elected.
The Taihape Community Board is composed of four members. The incumbent members were Michelle Fannin, Gail Larsen, Peter Oliver and Yvonne Sicely.[13] Fannin, Larsen and Sicely were re-elected unopposed and Ann Abernathy was elected unopposed also.[10]
As part of the Manawatū-Whanganui region, Rangitikei electors form part of the Manawatu-Rangitikei constituency of the Horizons Regional Council. This constituency elects two members. The incumbent councillors were chairman Bruce Gordon and Gordon McKellar.[14] Both incumbents were re-elected unopposed.[15]
Rangitikei District is part of the Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB), one of 20 district health boards in New Zealand. The WDHB consists of seven elected members and up to four members appointed by the Minister of Health. The incumbent elected members were Allan Anderson, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Jenny Duncan, Kate Joblin, Judith MacDonald and Ray Stevens.[16] Baker-Hogan, Duncan, MacDonald and Stevens are running for re-election, with eleven other candidates running including incumbent Mayor of Whanganui Annette Main.[17]
Baker-Hogan, Duncan and MacDonald were re-elected; Stevens lost re-election. Annette Main, Charlie Anderson, Graham Adams, and Stuart Hylton were also elected.[18] This election used the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system.[19]