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Kia Ora Joshua,  

Thank you for your Official Information request to the Far North District
Council.

Your request has been referred to the relevant council department for
consideration in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (the 'LGOIMA').

A response will be provided to you as soon as reasonably practicable, and
no later than 20 working days (as defined in the LGOIMA) after the day on
which the request is received.

If you need to contact us regarding this request, you may do so by calling
0800 920 029 or email [Far North District Council request email] and quote reference number
RFS-4272035.

Nga mihi,
Josh

Ask Us Team
District Services
Far North District Council  |  24-hour Contact Centre 0800 920 029
DDI 09 401 5200  |  [1][Far North District Council request email]
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From: [FOI #32467 email]

Sent: Friday, October 3, 2025 9:37 PM

To: [Far North District Council request email]

Subject: Official Information request - Mobile Ballot Box

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

CAUTION: This email originated from outside Far North District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

Dear Chief Executive,

This is a formal request under the LGOIMA regarding the allocation of
mobile ballot box services.

To understand how your statutory duty under s. 42(2)(da) of the LGA 2002
to foster “representative” participation has been met, please provide the
following:

1. Please provide the following allocation data:
a. The final mobile ballot box schedule for each ward.
b. The official elector numbers per ward used to create that schedule.
c. The resulting number of electors per scheduled mobile ballot box
service day for each ward.

2. The final report, memo, or analysis presented to you for approval that
outlines the rationale and schedule for the 2025 mobile ballot box
service. This should include any assessment showing how the final plan
would ensure the service was representative of the elector population in
each ward.

3. The specific criteria used to ensure the placement and timing of mobile
ballot boxes would be representative.

If no formal analysis or report exists demonstrating that the locations
were distributed in a representative way, please provide all
correspondence, advice, or other information that supports the decision
distribute ballot boxes in a way that is not representative of the elector
population in each ward.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #32467 email]

Is [Far North District Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Far North District Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
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If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

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2. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Home
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5. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Ca...

Joshua Riley

By email only to: [1][FOI #32467 email]

 

 

Tēnā koe Joshua Riley

 

Official information request: RFS 4272035 - Re the allocation of mobile
ballot box services

 

Thank you for your information request to the Far North District Council
(‘Council’), received on 6 October 2025. Your request has been referred to
the relevant Council department for consideration in accordance with the
provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act
1987 (the ‘LGOIMA’). A response will be provided to you as soon as
reasonably practicable, and no later than 20 working days (as defined in
the LGOIMA) after the day on which the request is received.

 

Please quote our reference RFS 4272035 for any further enquiries in
relation to this request.

 

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

 

 

 

   
Lea Zhao   
Legal Executive ‑ Legal Services
P 6494015579  |  [email address]
Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika  |  Far
North District Council
-------------------------------------------

Pokapū Kōrero 24-hāora  |  24-hour
Contact Centre 0800 920 029
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References

Visible links
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2. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/home
3. https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthDistric...
4. FNDC Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthDistric...
5. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/far-nort...
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7. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbGkKa...
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9. https://www.instagram.com/farnorth_dc/
10. https://campaigns.signature365.com/au-HF...

Joshua Riley

By email only: [1][FOI #32467 email]

 

Official information request RFS 4272035 - Re "the allocation of mobile
ballot box services." 

 

Dear Mr Riley

 

I refer to your request dated 3 October 2025 for information regarding the
allocation of mobile ballot box services during the 2025 Election.

 

Your request has been processed in accordance with the Local Government
Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 and Council’s responses are as
follows:

 

The final mobile ballot box schedule for each ward:

Information relating to the Mobile Ballot Box Tour remains publicly
available on Council’s external website - [2]Mobile Ballot Box Tour | Far
North District Council

 

The official elector numbers per ward:

The resulting number of electors per scheduled mobile ballot box service
day for each ward

Please refer to data above together with the attached daily returns data
for the FNDC 2025 Election.

 

The final report, memo, or analysis presented to you for approval that
outlines the rationale and schedule for the 2025 mobile ballot box
service. The implementation of the Mobile Ballot Box Tour formed part of
a wider operational civic education and engagement work programme approved
by Council’s senior leadership team (SLT) in October 2024.  Updates on the
operational work programme were also provided regularly to Council’s Te
Kuaka Committee throughout 2025.  Copies of the October 2024 presentation
to SLT and subsequent reports to Te Kuaka are attached. 

 

The specific criteria used to ensure the placement and timing of mobile
ballot boxes would be representative.

Please see reports attached.

 

If no formal analysis or report exists demonstrating that the locations
were distributed in a representative way, please provide all
correspondence, advice, or other information that supports the decision
distribute ballot boxes in a way that is not representative of the elector
population in each ward.”

Please see reports attached.

 

We hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request.  You have the right to seek a review of this decision by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[3]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or Freephone 0800 802 602. 

 

Nga mihi

LGOIMA  
Team 
 
 
 
Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika  |  Far
North District Council
----------------------------------------

Pokapū Kōrero 24-hāora  |  24-hour
Contact Centre 0800 920 029
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06-Oct-2025 18:35:11 - Joshua Dalbeth
From: [12][FOI #32467 email]
Sent: Friday, October 3, 2025 9:37 PM
To: [13][Far North District Council request email]
Subject: Official Information request - Mobile Ballot Box
________________________________________
CAUTION: This email originated from outside Far North District Council.
Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

Dear Chief Executive,

This is a formal request under the LGOIMA regarding the allocation of
mobile ballot box services.

To understand how your statutory duty under s. 42(2)(da) of the LGA 2002
to foster “representative” participation has been met, please provide the
following:

1. Please provide the following allocation data:
a. The final mobile ballot box schedule for each ward.
b. The official elector numbers per ward used to create that schedule.
c. The resulting number of electors per scheduled mobile ballot box
service day for each ward.

2. The final report, memo, or analysis presented to you for approval that
outlines the rationale and schedule for the 2025 mobile ballot box
service. This should include any assessment showing how the final plan
would ensure the service was representative of the elector population in
each ward.

3. The specific criteria used to ensure the placement and timing of mobile
ballot boxes would be representative.

If no formal analysis or report exists demonstrating that the locations
were distributed in a representative way, please provide all
correspondence, advice, or other information that supports the decision
distribute ballot boxes in a way that is not representative of the elector
population in each ward.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[14][FOI #32467 email]

Is [15][Far North District Council request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to Far North District Council? If so, please contact us using
this form:
[16]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[17]https://apc01.safelinks.protection.outlo...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #32467 email]
2. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/your-council/Lo...
3. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
4. https://www.fndc.govt.nz/home
5. https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthDistric...
6. FNDC Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FarNorthDistric...
7. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/far-nort...
8. FNDC LinkedIn
https://nz.linkedin.com/company/far-nort...
9. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbGkKa...
10. FNDC YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRbGkKa...
11. https://www.instagram.com/farnorth_dc/
12. mailto:[FOI #32467 email]
13. mailto:[Far North District Council request email]
14. mailto:[FOI #32467 email]
15. mailto:[Far North District Council request email]
16. https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...
17. https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

Joshua Riley

By email only: [1][FOI #32467 email]

 

Official information request RFS 4272035 - Re "the allocation of mobile
ballot box services." 

 

Dear Mr Riley

 

Please see responses to your follow-up questions below.

 

We hope this information is of some assistance in responding to your
request.  You have the right to seek a review of this decision by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
[2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or Freephone 0800 802 602. 

 

Nga mihi

LGOIMA  
Team 
 
 
 
Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika | Far
North District Council
----------------------------------------

Pokapū Kōrero 24-hāora | 24-hour Contact
Centre 0800 920 029
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Original Message-----
From: Joshua Riley <[11][FOI #32467 email]>
Sent: Monday, 3 November 2025 10:28 am
To: Rebecca Rowsell <[12][email address]>
Subject: RE: Official information request RFS 4272035 - Re "the allocation
of mobile ballot box services."

 

CAUTION:  This email originated from outside Far North District Council.

Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and
know the content is safe.

 

 

Dear LGOIMA Team,

 

Thank you for your response dated November 3, 2025, regarding my official
information request (RFS 4272035) on the allocation of mobile ballot box
services.

 

This email is a formal follow-up, as the response provided was incomplete
and did not contain all the specific information I requested in my
original LGOIMA request dated October 3, 2025.

 

As this is a request for information that was previously requested but not
provided, this is not a new request. The original statutory deadline of
November 3, 2025, remains in effect.

 

The following information from my original request is still outstanding:

 

1.  Request 1(a): The final mobile ballot box schedule for each ward:

    Your response did not provide this document. Instead, it provided a
URL to a council webpage. A webpage is not a final document and is subject
to change or removal. Please provide the final, static schedule (e.g., as
a PDF or spreadsheet) that was used for the 2025 election.

 

Please see attached.

 

2.  Request 1(c): The resulting number of electors per scheduled mobile
ballot box service day for each ward:

    Your response did not provide this data. You incorrectly referred me
to the 'daily returns data' (FNDC RTNS 006 2025 final.pdf), which details
voter turnout, not service allocation.

    To fulfill this request, please provide the specific number of
'scheduled stops' or 'service days' allocated to each of the four wards
(Bay of Islands-Whangaroa, Kaikohe-Hokianga, and Te Hiku).

 

While the projected schedule for the mobile ballot box service was
originally for stops at 93 locations, the final schedule was delivered to
86, split largely equally between the 3 geographical ward areas as
follows:

 

3.  Request 2: The final report, memo, or analysis... showing how the
final plan would ensure the service was representative of the *elector
population* in each ward:

    The documents provided (the SLT presentation and Te Kuaka reports)
confirm the criteria used were based on geographic accessibility (a "focus
on areas outside of the 10km radius" from a postal box or service centre)
and alignment with community hubs (e.g., "marae", "schools", "mobile
nursing units").

    However, none of the documents contain the analysis I specifically
requested: an assessment showing how the final schedule was representative
of the elector population in each ward.

    Please provide this specific population-based analysis. If no such
report or analysis exists, please confirm this in writing.

 

The information Council has already provided in its response dated 3
November 2025 (attached) represents the analysis undertaken by staff in
determining the schedule for the 2025 mobile ballot box service.  Your
request for a report on “specific population-based analysis” is refused
under section 17(g) LGOIMA on the basis that the information requested is
not held by Council.

 

I look forward to receiving this outstanding information promptly.

 

Sincerely,

 

Joshua Riley

 

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