Nelson and Tasman might need you

OPINION: In just over a week, nominations will close for the local body elections. Returning officers have not exactly been pushed since nominations opened three weeks ago.

As of last night, two people were confirmed as seeking the Nelson mayoralty – Aldo Miccio and Gary Watson, and incumbent Richard Kempthorne was the only nomination in Tasman.

As for councillors, just three nominations had been lodged in Nelson and eight in Tasman, plus four for the district's two community boards.

This early reticence is not uncommon, and returning officers are expecting to be busier from tomorrow until next Friday's midday deadline.

Presumably, some potential candidates are waiting to see who else will stand, while others will be agonising over their final decision and trying to weigh up costs versus benefits.

The short answer, to those in need of a nudge, is yes – voter choice is a wonderful thing, and perhaps councils which more reflect their communities will result.

Tasman currently has three women among its 13 councillors and Nelson is a little more gender-representative with five from 12.

Though neither body is made up entirely of people who qualify for membership of Grey Power, they do not reflect our increasingly diverse population, either.

Nelson city's Maori population has nearly doubled in the past 10 years to 3600, and has been described as the fastest growing Maori community in the country.

The region's Asian and Pacific populations are increasing, too, and yet our councils remain steadfastly white middleclass in appearance.

MMP has brought greater diversity to Parliament. Some other councils have Asian mayors or councillors for example – suggesting their voting populations are more open-minded than ours.

That cannot be tested unless good candidates take the plunge. Why is this important? A story from Taranaki went global this week. It illustrates the current lack of cross-cultural dialogue and, consequently, understanding.

In short, a Turkish man and his wife say they were dancing excitedly in their kitchen, celebrating good news. A neighbour, assuming domestic violence, called the police.

Though the case has yet to be settled in court, the story does illustrate some important points: New Zealand is changing, and quickly; our community leadership is not keeping pace; and the best way to avoid misunderstanding is to seek and value multiple points of view.

Those potential candidates who are wavering should consult widely.

Current councillors would be a good source of guidance on aspects of council service like workload and whether their expectations have been matched by reality.

Returning officers can also offer more formal information regarding the requirements.

Detailed booklets are available, too.

Local government is often seen as the poor second cousin to that based in the Beehive. However, in many ways it makes just as many decisions that affect our day-to-day lives – perhaps more.

As the requirements and expectations of councils become more complex we need high quality candidates and councils that will represent, inspire, reflect and guide us.

For those who remain undecided about standing: the clock is ticking.

- © Fairfax NZ News