Nominations For Invercargill City Council & ILT (final list)

• Invercargill sees its first open mayoral race without an incumbent in decades.
• Twenty-seven council hopefuls join the election alongside board and trust candidates.
• Voting begins in early September with several opportunities to cast ballots across the city.

Invercargill is set for a competitive election season with eight candidates entering the race to become the city’s next Mayor. This year’s election is significant as it is the first time since the 1990s that the mayoral seat has been open without an incumbent seeking re-election.

Nominations closed at midday on 1 August. Alongside the mayoral contenders, 27 people are standing for Council, seven for the Bluff Community Board, and eight for the Invercargill Licensing Trust. Voting papers will start arriving on 9 September, and voting will close at noon on 11 October.

Several current elected members have chosen not to run again. Mayor Nobby Clark, Councillors Lesley Soper and Peter Kett, as well as Bluff Community Board members Sam Graham, Terina Stockwell, and long-serving Tammi Topi, are stepping away from their roles.

Council Deputy Electoral Officer and Manager Governance and Legal Michael Morris said the nomination closure signalled the start of an important time for candidates and voters. “Now is the time for candidates to get their names out there and show the people of Invercargill and Bluff just what it is they stand for. It is important that voters learn about the people who want to represent them for the next three years. Candidates' profiles and other accompanying information will be on the Council website in the coming weeks.”

Council Acting Chief Executive Trudie Hurst praised the strong turnout of those seeking election. “It’s great to see so many passionate people showing the ultimate show of affection for Invercargill and Bluff by putting themselves out there to be an Elected Member. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard and to cast a vote for the person who represents what you want to see in Invercargill and Bluff.”

To help voters make informed decisions, Council and the Southland Business Chamber will host The Great Debate on 19 August. The event includes a Speed Dating session with Council candidates, followed by a Mayoral debate moderated by Duncan Garner. Details are available on the Chamber website.

A voting hub will open on 9 September at Invercargill Central on Esk Street, providing information on all candidates and serving as a location for postal and special votes. Other drop-off points include Civic Building, Bluff Service Centre, and Environment Southland on North Road. Pop-up voting locations will be announced soon.

Orange voting bins will also be available throughout the city at sites such as Invercargill Library, several supermarkets, Stadium Southland, and Plaza Supervalue. Southland District Council and Gore District Council voters can also use these bins.

Those who have not yet enrolled are encouraged to do so by visiting vote.nz or contacting Michael Morris at the Council. The final day to enrol is 10 October.

Mayoralty (1 vacancy)