Democratic Transition Plan –Updated Timeline and actions
Phase 1
Commissioners
Council
1
Democratic Transition Plan –Updated Timeline and actions
DEMOCRACY TRANSITION PLAN
Phase one
Phase two
Attracting quality candidates
Increasing voter participation – goal is 50% voter turnout
Attracting people to vote
STV awareness
This phase is led by Commissioners with its own look, feel and communication style.
TCC is holding an election
This phase is led by Council staff and the Electoral Officer
Phase and Purpose
Key messaging
Details
Election digital and media campaign to start in
Person specification setting out Commissioners’ essential and desirable attributes of quality candidate (Refer Appendix 1).
2024.
Website 15 November 2023 with candidate handbook, attributes of a quality candidate, information for voters, information about the Māori ward and
Phase 1 - Encourage quality
information for candidates.
candidates and diverse
Commissioners Terms of Reference state: “work
candidates to stand for election
Candidate information evening Monday, 19 February 2024 (see programme in Appendix 2). Registrations online. Sessions to be recorded and
with the Council to encourage quality candidates
highlights made available on website following evening. Advertising starting 30 January 2024.
to stand for election”.
Video – Anne Tolley encouraging candidates to stand
Attract quality candidates to
Position descriptions for mayor and councillors, day in the life of an elected member
stand for election.
Local Government basics – All you need to know: guide to Local Government and FAQs about local government on website.
This phase is led by Commissioners with its own
Remuneration – part of FAQs and candidate handbook
look, feel and communication style.
Encourage candidates from
Commissioners to speak at various organisations about what it takes to be an elected member and what attributes of a quality candidate are.
diverse sectors of the
Concepts of collective responsibility, strategic leadership, stewardship of assets, intergenerational equity. Dates and programme to be confirmed.
community to stand for
Online information session for prospective candidates – talk to Commissioners and Electoral Officer (record online session – watch in English and NZ
election.
Intentional messages about a fresh start and
Sign Language – 30 April 2024 (TBC).
seeking diversity of candidates.
Commissioners’ clinics – book a time 1:1 – advertise dates, times – focus on potential candidates March-May 2024
One of the Commissioners key messages is that
He kanohi ki te kanohi – Face to face meetings with targeted groups including iwi/hapū, ethnic, youth and disabled communities e.g. Disability expo
voters have a responsibility to make an informed
Invite young councillors from other councils to talk about their experiences
choice.
Use community development events already planned to encourage candidates to stand.
Encourage people to nominate others (as well as themselves).
Refer to phase 2, part C for campaigns to encourage voters to know who they are voting for, promote media interest and provide more information on
candidates.
Phase 2
We will use a positive, engaging campaign to
Work with Electoral Commission (EC) on local campaign to enrol from February-June 2024. The EC will be promoting voter registration for the central
Part A
attract people to vote as we return to an elected
government election on 14 October 2023.
Increase voter registration and
Council. The look and feel will be continued
Attend Toi Ohomai and University of Waikato Orientation weeks in February 2024.
participation
throughout the campaign, into the final phase.
Work with Electoral Commission who are engaging Principals and Schools and with Electoral Commission to get Year 12 & 13 students registered
and interested in voting.
Encourage eligible voters
Commissioners host a breakfast with student leaders
Local government impacts your life more than
to enrol with the Electoral
central government and we need the public to
Why you should vote in the local election – series of videos reasons why you should vote
Commission.
know that. Rather than focusing solely on youth,
Attend events in community to encourage people to enrol and people keep their enrolment details up to date (work with events team).
Use social media to raise awareness using network nudge and local influencers
this time around we need to encourage
Encourage more people
everyone to vote. We will target people with
Te Rangapū Mana Whenua o Tauranga Moana to provide advice on methods to increase Māori registration and understanding of Māori electoral
to vote by highlighting the
specific ads based on their interests, age,
option e.g. marae Facebook pages.
responsibility for ensuring
concerns, and passions with messaging that will
Refer to phase 2, part C for campaigns to encourage voters to know who they are voting for, promote media interest and provide more information on
good governance relies
motivate them enough to vote.
candidates.
2
Democratic Transition Plan –Updated Timeline and actions
Phase and Purpose
Key messaging
Details
on voters making good
decisions.
Phase 2
Key message is that all votes count.
Digital campaign how STV works in single member wards in June-July 2024
STV video on website explaining how STV works
Part B
To vote, just rank the candidates from your
preferred to least preferred and you don’t have
Single Transferable Vote
to rank them all.
awareness
Inform voters that we
have STV and that it is as
easy as 1,2,3.s
Phase 2
We’ll let voters know who they’re voting for
Information for voters at https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/council/about-your-council/elections-2024
Part C
(Mayor and Councillor candidates), what ward
Campaign to encourage voters to know who they’re voting for and their responsibility to make an informed choice.
Tauranga City Council is
they are in, how to vote and where they can
After nominations have closed, we will ask all candidates to answer some key questions and a short video and along with their candidate profile
holding an election with new
vote. For those on the Māori roll, we’ll let them
statement we will post these online (similar to Auckland Council)
wards
know that there’s a Māori ward for the first time.
Attract local and national media interest in candidates.
Use social media to raise awareness using network nudge and local influencers
We want to attract people to vote and demystify
Inform the community that
the voting process.
Encourage community groups to host meet the candidates and candidate debates. Advertise these dates on website.
TCC is holding an
Pre-election report 12 April 2024
election in July 2024.
Maps – interactive ward maps – put in address and see candidates you can vote for and links back to website
Inform the community
Maps - Where can vote – map of post boxes, where can drop off votes in orange bins
what they are voting for
We want voters to know they have a
Promote orange bins in supermarkets
i.e. the Mayor and one
responsibility to make an informed choice.
Vote box pop ups
Councillor.
Drive through voting – on election day
Inform the voters on the
Elections 101: A quick guide to making voting easy
Māori roll that for the first
Te Rangapū Mana Whenua o Tauranga Moana to provide advice on methods to encourage Māori to vote e.g. marae Facebook pages
time there is a Māori
ward.
Where and how to cast a special vote
– be available at four libraries– extension from just one place to do a special vote in 2019.
Inform the community
Assisted participation for voting.
where they can vote.
Campaign get voting.
Encourage voters to know
Reminders to vote and where.
who they’re voting for.
Memory reminders – messages on voting envelopes
3
Democratic Transition Plan –Updated Timeline and actions
APPENDIX 1 – ATTRIBUTES OF A QUALITY CANDIDATE – APPROVED 27 MARCH 2023 – ONLINE 15 NOVEMBER 2023
4
APPENDIX 2
Candidates Information Evening-
Date: 19 February 2024
Time: 4 pm
Location: Holy Trinity Church Hall, corner of Devonport Road and 3rd Avenue,
Tauranga
Time
Session
Speakers
4:00 pm
Karakia
Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston
4:05 pm
Welcome
Marty Grenfell, Chief Executive
4:10 pm -4:25
What we found and what surprised us. Commission Chair Anne Tolley
pm
Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston
Commissioner Stephen Selwood
Commissioner Bill Wasley
4:25 pm- 4:40
What does great governance look like?
Dr Jim Mather
pm
4:40 pm - 5:00
Current and previous councillors talk
Andrew Turner, ex-deputy mayor,
pm
about their experiences and motivation
Christchurch City Council
to stand for office
Tu O’Brien, Rangitāiki Māori ward
councillor, Whakatāne District Council
5:00 pm – 5:15
Election campaigning and rules, safety
Warwick Lampp, Electoral Officer
pm
in campaigning, election signs, results,
and timetable
5:15 pm – 5:40
Supper - Mix and mingle with speakers and potential candidates
pm
5:40 pm –5:50
Relationships with tangata whenua
Matire Duncan, Chair, Te Rangapu
pm
Mana Whenua o Tauranga Moana
5:50 pm- 6:20
Relationships with external
James Denyer, Mayor, Western Bay
pm
organisations
of Plenty
A panel discussion from a
Mary Dillon, Envirohub
partner/stakeholders’/community
Nigel Tutt, Priority One
perspective
6:20 pm-6:30
Relationship between governance and
Marty Grenfell, Chief Executive
pm
management
6:30 pm
Karakia and close evening
Commissioner Shadrach Rolleston
1
Objective
To help prepare potential candidates interested in standing as elected members, Council will
host a free candidate information evening, designed to provide expert guidance.
Joined by the Commissioners, a governance expert, our Electoral Officer, and past and
present councillors from other councils, the first part of the evening will be an informative
session to prepare would-be candidates for what they may expect if elected. It will provide
an opportunity for the Commissioners to share information about what they found when they
arrived and what surprised them, and share some thoughts about good governance and
collective responsibility.
During a supper break where there will be time to mix and mingle.
The second half of the evening will focus on the relationships elected members will need to
build on with tangata whenua, community groups and some of our key partners.
The evening will conclude with a session by Council’s Chief Executive Marty Grenfell on the
relationship he sees between governance and organisational management and how he and
his team will support elected members when they take office.
Each session will allow speakers time to respond to questions from the audience.
We will film key portions of the event to host on the Council’s webpage. The event links to
the wider election campaign’s purpose of raising awareness about the work Council
undertakes in Tauranga.
Information packs will be provided to all attendees including a candidate’s handbook, a
position description and links to further information.
2
Democratic Transition Plan –Updated Timeline and actions
Objective
To help prepare potential candidates interested in standing as elected members, Council will host a free candidate information evening, designed to provide expert guidance.
Joined by the Commissioners, a governance expert, our Electoral Officer, and past and present councillors from other councils, the first part of the evening will be an informative session to prepare would-be candidates for what they
may expect if elected. It will provide an opportunity for the Commissioners to share information about what they found when they arrived and what surprised them, as well as considering the attributes candidates might need as
elected members.
During a supper break where there will be time to mix and mingle.
The second half of the evening will focus on the relationships elected members will need to build on with tangata whenua, community groups and some of our key partners.
The evening will conclude with a session by Council’s Chief Executive Marty Grenfell on the relationship he sees between governance and organisational management and how he and his team will support elected members when they
take office.
Each session will allow speakers time to respond to questions from the audience.
We will film key portions of the event to host on the Council’s webpage. The event links to the wider election campaign’s purpose of raising awareness about the work Council undertakes in Tauranga.
Information packs will be provided to all attendees including a candidate’s handbook, a position description and links to further information.
6
