# 2016 Rangitikei local elections

The 2016 Rangitikei local elections were held across the Rangitikei District of Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, between 16 September and 8 October. These elections were for the offices of Mayor of Rangitikei, eleven members of the Rangitikei District Council, four members each of two community boards, two members of the Horizons Regional Council and seven members of the Whanganui District Health Board; these elections were part of the New Zealand-wide local elections. Postal ballots will be issued to all registered voters.
The incumbent mayor was Andy Watson, who on 9 June announced his intention on seeking re-election. First past the post (FPP) was to be used for all elections except the District Health Board elections which used single transferable vote (STV).
The previous elections took place in October 2013 and the following will take place in October 2019.

## Dates

Following are the key dates for the local elections:
| Date | Event |
| 15 July | Nominations open for candidates. |
| 12 August | Nominations close at noon. |
| 17 August | Election date and candidates’ names publicised by electoral officers. |
| 16–21 September | Voting documents delivered to households. Electors can post the documents back to electoral officers as soon as they have voted. |
| 8 October | Polling day — all documents must be at the council before voting closes at noon. Preliminary results (i.e. once all ordinary votes are counted) will be available as soon as possible afterwards. |
| 13–19 October | Official results (including all valid ordinary and special votes) declared. |

## Mayor

The incumbent Mayor of Rangitikei was Andy Watson, first elected in 2013. Watson sought re-election and contested the election along with community patrol chair George London and civil engineer Rob Snijders.
Incumbent mayor Watson was declared re-elected on 13 October 2016.
2016 Rangitikei mayoral election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Andy Watson | 3,638 | 77.35 | +35.88 |
| | Independent | Robert Snijders | 700 | 14.88 | — |
| | Independent | George London | 365 | 7.76 | — |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,938 | 62.47 | +52.31 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 4,703 | 99.87 | +0.24 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 6 | 0.13 | −0.24 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,781 | 47.86 | −1.36 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 9,989 | | |

## District council
### Bulls ward

The Bulls ward elected two councillors. The incumbent councillors were Tim Harris and Rebecca McNeil. Harris and McNeil both sought re-election.
Both incumbents lost re-election to new candidates Platt and Dunn.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Bulls Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Graeme Platt | 560 | 40.14 | — |
| | Independent | Y Jane Dunn | 386 | 27.67 | — |
| | Independent | N Tim Harris | 300 | 21.51 | −10.31 |
| | Independent | N Rebecca McNeil | 149 | 10.68 | −27.32 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 1,395 | 99.93 | −0.07 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1 | 0.07 | +0.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,396 | | |

### Hunterville ward

The Hunterville ward elected one councillor. The incumbent councillor is Dean McManaway, the deputy mayor. McManaway, who was elected unopposed in 2013, was elected unopposed for a second consecutive time in 2016.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Hunterville Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Dean McManaway | Unopposed | 100.00 | ±0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | N/A | 100.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | N/A | 0.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | | |

### Marton ward

The Marton ward elected four councillors. The incumbent councillors were Cath Ash, Nigel Belsham, Mike Jones and Lynne Sheridan. Ash, Belsham and Sheridan sought re-election; Jones retired from politics.
Belsham, Sheridan and Ash were all re-elected; Dave Wilson was elected.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Marton Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Nigel Belsham | 1,726 | 20.75 | +3.49 |
| | Independent | Y Dave Wilson | 1,347 | 16.19 | — |
| | Independent | Y Cath Ash | 1,146 | 13.77 | +4.34 |
| | Independent | Y Lynne Sheridan | 897 | 10.78 | +0.07 |
| | Independent | Brendon Williams | 882 | 10.60 | — |
| | Independent | Anne George | 651 | 7.82 | — |
| | Independent | Robert Snijders | 615 | 7.39 | — |
| | Independent | George London | 368 | 4.42 | — |
| | Independent | Steve Costelloe | 367 | 4.41 | — |
| | Independent | Carolyn Bates | 321 | 3.86 | — |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 8,320 | 99.84 | −0.09 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 13 | 0.16 | +0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,333 | | |

### Taihape ward

The Taihape ward elected three councillors. The incumbent councillors were Richard Aslett, Angus Gordon and Ruth Rainey. All three incumbents are seeking re-election.
All three incumbents were re-elected.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Taihape Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Angus Gordon | 785 | 30.71 | +5.41 |
| | Independent | Y Ruth Rainey | 761 | 29.77 | +5.92 |
| | Independent | Y Richard Aslett | 670 | 26.21 | +5.76 |
| | Independent | Etain McDonnell | 340 | 13.30 | — |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 2,556 | 99.88 | −0.08 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3 | 0.12 | +0.08 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,559 | | |

### Turakina ward

The Turakina ward elected one councillor. The incumbent councillor is Soraya Peke-Mason. Peke-Mason, who was elected unopposed in 2013, was elected unopposed for a second consecutive term.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Turakina Ward :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Soraya Peke-Mason | Unopposed | 100.00 | ±0.00 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | N/A | 100.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | N/A | 0.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | | |

## Community boards
### Ratana Community Board

The Ratana Community Board is composed of four members. The incumbent members were Maata Kare Thompson, Nadine Rawhiti, Bjorn Barlien and Tama Biddle.
Thompson was re-elected and Rawhiti lost her seat. Charlie Mete, Charlie Rourangi and Thomas Tautaurangi were also elected.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Ratana Community Board :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Charlie Mete | 91 | 24.86 | — |
| | Independent | Y Charlie Rourangi | 74 | 20.22 | — |
| | Independent | Y Thomas Tataurangi | 65 | 17.76 | — |
| | Independent | Y Maata Kare Thompson | 58 | 15.85 | — |
| | Independent | N Nadine Rawhiti | 48 | 13.11 | — |
| | Independent | Stephen Nelson | 30 | 8.20 | — |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 366 | 100.00 | — |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 0 | 0.00 | — |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 366 | | |

### Taihape Community Board

The Taihape Community Board is composed of four members. The incumbent members were Michelle Fannin, Gail Larsen, Peter Oliver and Yvonne Sicely. Fannin, Larsen and Sicely were re-elected unopposed and Ann Abernathy was elected unopposed also.
Rangitikei District Council election, 2016 – Taihape Community Board :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Ann Abernathy | Unopposed | 100.00 | — |
| | Independent | Y Michelle Fannin | Unopposed | 100.00 | — |
| | Independent | Y Gail Larsen | Unopposed | 100.00 | — |
| | Independent | Y Yvonne Sicely | Unopposed | 100.00 | — |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | N/A | 100.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | N/A | 0.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | | |

## Regional election

As part of the Manawatū-Whanganui region, Rangitikei electors form part of the Manawatu-Rangitikei constituency of the Horizons Regional Council. This constituency elects two members. The incumbent councillors were chairman Bruce Gordon and Gordon McKellar. Both incumbents were re-elected unopposed.
Horizons Regional Council election, 2016 – Manawatu-Rangitikei :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Bruce Gordon | Unopposed | 100.00 | — |
| | Independent | Y Gordon McKellar | Unopposed | 100.00 | — |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | N/A | 100.00 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | N/A | 0.00 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | N/A | | |

## District health board election

Rangitikei District is part of the Whanganui District Health Board (WDHB), one of 20 district health boards in New Zealand. The WDHB consists of seven elected members and up to four members appointed by the Minister of Health. The incumbent elected members were Allan Anderson, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Jenny Duncan, Kate Joblin, Judith MacDonald and Ray Stevens. Baker-Hogan, Duncan, MacDonald and Stevens are running for re-election, with eleven other candidates running including incumbent Mayor of Whanganui Annette Main.
Baker-Hogan, Duncan and MacDonald were re-elected; Stevens lost re-election. Annette Main, Charlie Anderson, Graham Adams, and Stuart Hylton were also elected. This election used the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system.
Whanganui District Health Board election, 2016 – At-large :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Y Annette Main | 4,235 | 20.55 | — |
| | Independent | Y Charlie Anderson | 3,009 | 14.60 | — |
| | Independent | Y Philippa Baker-Hogan | 2,906 | 14.10 | — |
| | Independent | Y Judith MacDonald | 2,545.78 | 12.35 | — |
| | Independent | Y Jenny Duncan | 2,509.08 | 12.18 | — |
| | Independent | Y Graham Adams | 2,497.09 | 12.12 | — |
| | Independent | Y Stuart Graeme Hylton | 2,372.75 | 11.51 | — |
| | Independent | N Ray Stevens | 2,244.89 | 10.89 | — |
| | Independent | Kiritahi Firmin | 1,596.79 | 7.75 | — |
| | Independent | Rob Vinsen | 1,229.34 | 5.97 | — |
| | Independent | Christie Teki-Reu | 1,054.50 | 5.12 | — |
| | Independent | Susan Osborne | 863.19 | 4.19 | — |
| | Independent | Wendy Stanbrook-Mason | 768.80 | 3.73 | — |
| | Independent | Rangi M. Wills | 640.11 | 3.11 | — |
| | Independent | Ngaire Ellwood | 404.25 | 1.96 | — |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 20,606 | 94.37 | — |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,229 | 5.63 | — |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,835 | | |