Voting is underway in the by-election to find someone to represent the Innes ward on the Waipapa Papanui-Innes-Central Community Board.

Electoral Officer Jo Daly said the by-election is being held by postal vote, and the voting papers have started arriving in letterboxes from Thursday.

If you’re enrolled, you’ll find everything you need – a candidate profiles sheet with the profiles of all seven candidates, the voting paper, and a return envelope.

Voting closes at noon on Friday 17 February, and the progress results will be announced soon after.

The candidates are former Christchurch City Councillor Mike Davidson, Moazzem Hossain, former Christchurch City Councillor Ali Jones, Harrison McEvoy, Garry Neale, Mahlon Saumalu Mark Wilson

You can view their profiles here.

The vacancy was created after the successful candidate in the 2022 local elections, Shreejana Chhetri, resigned. To make sure your completed vote is received before voting closes, post it no later than 5pm on Tuesday 14 February. They can also be hand-delivered to vote bins at the following locations, Christchurch City Council Civic Offices, Papanui Library and Service Centre, Redwood Library, Shirley Library and Service Centre and Tūranga.

The council is also trialling vote bins in the community at Kohinga St Albans Community Centre, 1049 Colombo Street, 9am–1pm, Monday–Friday Shirley Community Trust MacFarlane Park Neighbourhood Centre, 17 Acheson Avenue, during opening hours.

“Special voting facilities for people who are on the unpublished roll or have lost, or not received, their voting papers are available,” Daly said.

“We can post these out to electors or issue them in person, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, from the Civic Offices on Hereford Street, Papanui Library and Service Centre Customer Services Desk, and Shirley Library and Service Centre Customer Services Desk,” Daly said.

“To get them posted out to you, contact us on 03 941 8999 or at [email protected].”

For further information please visit ccc.govt.nz/elections or contact the Electoral Team on (03) 941 8581 or [email protected]