Source: Federated Farmers
Farmer voices will be heard loud and clear in council chambers over the next three years, with nearly 70 candidates linked to Federated Farmers elected.
“In the lead-up to this election, Federated Farmers urged rural people to get involved in local decision-making – both by standing as candidates and by voting,” Feds local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says.
“The response on both fronts has been really heartening.
“I congratulate all who put their names forward. We look forward to continuing to constructively engage on matters affecting rural communities.”
While this year’s local government elections have seen the lowest voter turnout in 36 years, with only 32.65% of eligible voters bothering to have their say, the response in provincial and rural New Zealand was significantly better.
The rural turnout was 43.6%, and in provincial cities it was 38.3% – both eclipsing the 28.8% who cast a vote in metro areas.
“Perhaps this shows that rural and provincial residents better understand how decisions by local authorities – on things like roading, water infrastructure, district planning rules – affect their daily lives,” Faulkner says.
“A major part of Federated Farmers’ work is advocating to district and regional councils for a focus on core infrastructure, reining in rates rises, fairer cost-sharing, and common-sense planning rules.
“We urged candidates with a strong understanding of rural and farming needs to fight for election.
“They did just that – and clearly plenty of voters appreciated their policies and skillset.”
Based on preliminary election results, there are 10 current or former Federated Farmers provincial presidents among the 69 successful candidates linked to Feds.
They are: Will Foley (Mayor, Central Hawke’s Bay District), Andrew McGiven (Matamata Piako District), Luke Pepper (Ruapehu District), Jamie Falloon (Masterton District), Keith Holmes (Waikato Regional Council), Geoff Young and David Rose (Environment Southland), Ben Fraser and Sally Dryland (Horizons Regional Council), John Blackwell (Northland Regional Council).
