2019 Nelson mayoral election explained

The 2019 Nelson mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections that were held on 12 October 2019 to elect the Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand.

Key dates

Key dates for the election were:^[1]

• 1 July: Electoral Commission enrolment campaign starts.
• 19 July: Nominations open for candidates. Rolls open for inspection.
• 16 August: Nominations close at 12 noon. Rolls close.
• 21 August: Election date and candidates' names announced.
• 20 to 25 September: Voting documents delivered to households. Electors can post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted.
• 12 October: Polling day. Voting documents must be at council before voting closes at 12 noon. Preliminary results will be available as soon as all ordinary votes are counted.
• 17 to 23 October: Official results, including all valid ordinary and special votes, declared.

Candidates

Declared candidates

• Mel Courtney, Nelson City Councillor and former Nelson MP^[2]
• Bill Dahlberg, Nelson City Councillor^[3]
• Rachel Reese, incumbent Mayor of Nelson^[4]
• Tim Skinner, Nelson City Councillor^[5]
• Mike Ward, former Nelson City Councillor and List MP, candidate for mayor in 1986, 1989, 2007, and 2010^[6]
• John Wakelin^[7]
• Avner Nahmias^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Race for the mayoralty: What you need to know . Radio NZ. 4 March 2019 . 4 March 2019 .
2. Web site: Old hand at Nelson council announces bid for mayoralty . 20 April 2019.
3. Web site: Nelson Councillor announces mayoralty bid . 9 July 2019.
4. Web site: Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese is running for re-election . 12 July 2019.
5. Web site: Nelson mayoral contest widens as councillor Tim Skinner joins race . 28 July 2019.
6. Web site: Mike for mayor? . 30 May 2019.
7. News: Seventh Mayoral Candidate Announced. Nelson Weekly. Charles. Anderson. 22 August 2019.