The 2022 local authority elections are looming on the horizon. Will you be ready for Vote 2022?
The online programme features 4 informative and interactive sessions from experienced electoral officers and election partners bringing you all the essentials on running a successful election and the very latest updates on Māori wards, the ins and outs of managing social media, delivering the election in the event of COVID-19 restrictions, how candidates should declare their donations, and how to improve voter turnout in your community.
- 17 Feb 2022-22 Feb 2022
- 09:00 - 17:00
- Save to my Calendar
- ONLINE DELIVERY, New Zealand
- 540.00 (plus GST) Members
- 625.00 (plus GST) Non Members
About this event
Overview
The Taituarā Electoral officers’ pre-election training is the chance for staff new to electoral roles to get up to speed, and for experienced staff to refresh their knowledge of the legal and practical requirements for managing successful elections.
The programme combines the content of the Taituarā updated Electoral Code of Practice with interactive group work and all the latest news on Māori wards, amendments to the Local Electoral Act, emerging practice in community engagement, dealing with social media and Vote 2022 - the national campaign to promote participation in local authority elections being delivered jointly by Local Government New Zealand and Taituarā. Content will be delivered by sector experts, including experienced electoral officers from the Taiturarā Election Reference Group, social media experts from Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and the Department of Internal Affairs, the Serious Fraud Office, the Electoral Commission, Local Government New Zealand, and New Zealand Post.
Who should attend?
This is a must for all electoral officers, their deputies and communications managers and advisors who will be involved in the management of the 2022 local authority elections.
Programme
Session one: Elections 101, Māori Wards and Constituencies
Thursday 17 February 1.00 pm - 3.40 pm
1.00 pm Welcome
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
1.10 pm What to expect when you’re expecting an election
Devorah Nicuarta-Smith, Deputy Electoral Officer, Manager Governance and Support Services, Nelson City Council
An overview of the people, processes, and tools that make an election tick, for new electoral officials.
Partners – the role of the Electoral Officer and the roles of partners inside and outside your Council
Process – project timeline and core activities – putting what’s been done into context and focusing on what’s ahead.
Tools & Rules – highlight the tools and legal compliance resources available to support you
1.55 pm BREAK
2.00 pm Māori wards and constituencies
Mali Ahipene, Pou Tuhono, Tai-ranga-whenua, Customer, Community and Services, Waikato Regional Council
James Baty, Director Internal Partnerships, Gisborne District Council
How will having Māori wards change voting in local government elections? We will discuss considerations for candidates, voters and inclusion of te reo Māori.
2.45 pm BREAK
2.50 pm Local government reform and the demise of DHB democracy
Raymond Horan, Chief Advisor, Taituarā
The future of local government, RMA, and three waters.
The DHB reforms have brought an end to DHB democracy and elections.
3.10 pm Summing up the session
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
3.20 pm FINISH
Session two: Election Management – Communication, Social Media, Pandemics, and Resilience
Friday 18 February 8.45 am - 12.00 pm
8.45 am Welcome
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group, and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
Dean will re-cap yesterday's session, welcome electoral officers joining the programme at this point, and introduce today's sessions.
8.50 am Communication guidance for the pre-election period
Raymond Horan, Chief Advisor, Taituarā
Raymond will be presenting communications guidance about the pre-election period for electoral officers and democracy staff. The guidance focuses on three principles, that elected members have the right to govern during the pre-election period, communities have a legitimate need for council information, and local authorities cannot promote the prospects of any candidate.
9.35 am BREAK
9.40 am Social media in elections
Peter Thompson, Associate Professor School of English, Film, Theatre and Media, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Dr. Peter Thompson will discuss some of the ways social media might influence the integrity of local elections and outline the challenges of regulating online platforms to eliminate such risks.
10.25 am BREAK
10.30 am Managing COVID-19 risks during an election
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group, and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
Dale Ofsoske, Managing Director, Election Services
Fergus Campbell, Policy Analyst, The Department of Internal Affairs
Kathryn McLean, Senior Associate, Simpson Grierson
11.15 am BREAK
11.20 am Well-being and resilience during the election period 'Secure your own oxygen mask first' – staying well in election year
Dr Sven Hansen, Founder, The Resilience Institute
Over the past decade Polyvagal Theory has explained how adversity impacts our bodies, hearts, minds and relationships. It is a clear, evidence-based framework to understand the current challenges to our mental health. Most importantly, it has developed a range of practical solutions we can use to heal mental illness, bounce in adversity, and learn how to stay calm, connected, and focused in conflict. Dr Sven Hansen will explain the concept and provide practical guidance in how to apply these solutions.
How to be Calm and Connected in Adversity:
• Understanding what happens to us in adversity
• What happens when we react or fold under pressure
• Defining the flight, fight and freeze reactions
• How to name and tame distress
• Tactical calm and rapid relaxation
• How to connect and influence in difficult interactions
• Ventral Vagus Nerve training practices
11.50 am Summing up the session
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
12.00 pm FINISH
Session three: Candidates, Promotion of Elections, Candidate Donations and Voter Turnout
Monday 21 February 1.00 pm - 4.20 pm
1.00pm Welcome
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group, and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
Dean will re-cap yesterday's session, welcome electoral officers joining the programme at this point, and introduce today's sessions.
1.05 pm A candidate’s view
Mike Reid, Principal Policy Advisor, LGNZ
1.45 pm BREAK
1.50 pm Councils' promotion of elections
Sam Rossiter-Stead, Head of Communications and Engagement, Wellington City Council
2.35 pm BREAK
2.40 pm Candidate donations
Blair Bulloch, Principal Forensic Accountant, Serious Fraud Office
The Serious Fraud Office has taken recent investigations into donations towards local and central government candidates. Some of these investigations are still ongoing. There is a high degree of public interest in knowing who funds our elected members and in keeping our democratic systems free from corruption. Blair will discuss the accounting behaviours that are causing concern, and the preferred treatment of donation income.
3.20 pm BREAK
3.25 pm Voter turnout – panel session
Ethnic turnout - Anusha Guler, Deputy Chief Executive Community and Partnerships, Ministry of Ethnic Communities
Māori turnout - Kirsty Barber & Kawena Jones, Taurikura NZ
Youth turnout - Meshweyla Macdonald Secondary Schools and Youth Advisor, Waikato Regional Council
Youth turnout - Daynah Eriepa, Civic Engagement Advisor, Hamilton City Council
4.10 pm Summing up the session
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
4.20 pm FINISH
Session four: NZ Post, voters and voting
Tuesday 22 February 9.00 am - 12.00 pm
9.00 am Welcome
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group, and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
Dean will re-cap yesterday's session, welcome electoral officers joining the programme at this point, and introduce today's sessions.
9.05 am am NZ Post session
Peter Avison, Manager of Digital Services at Datam, NZ Post
Dean Cooper, Mail Solution Consultant, NZ Post
Peter will discuss the creation of voter packs, and Dean will present how the mail system ramps up its inward and outward bound mail for the elections.
9.35 am BREAK
9.40 am Get your rolls right and your papers perfect
Dale Ofsoske, Managing Director, Elections Services Ltd
Peter Avison, Manager Digital Solutions – Datam, New Zealand Post
Ross McPherson, Acting National Manager, Enrolment and Community Engagement Operations, Electoral Commission
Timeliness and accuracy are critical for these core tasks for electoral officers. This session covers the residents and ratepayers roll, use of Votext, and the printing and despatch of voting papers.
For background reading, please see Parts 7, 12 and 13 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls.
10.25 am BREAK
10.30 am Voting, counting and declaring results
Michael Morris, Legal Counsel, Invercargill City Council
Michael will guide you through the ins and outs of voting, special voting, counting and declaring results.
For background reading, please see Parts 14, 15 & 16 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls.
11.00 am BREAK
11.05 am After the ball is over – post-election tasks
Rick Dunn, Governance Lead, Rotorua Lakes Council
Sarah Nichols, Governance Manager, Waimakariri District Council
Just because you’ve counted the last vote doesn’t mean the job is finished. Sarah and Rick will take you through the wrap-up tasks of dealing with candidate deposits and post-election record-keeping and what to do if your election is the subject of a judicial recount or inquiry.
For background reading, please see Parts 17 & 18 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls.
11.50 am Summing up the session
Dean Heiford, Chair, Elections Reference Group, and Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
12.00 pm FINISH