Representation Review Forum

MDC Manager Economic, Community and Support Services, Dean has been the Electoral Officer for Marlborough since 1998. MDC was an early adopter of STV voting, becoming one of the seven local authorities which experienced the vote processing problems at the 2004 election.

MDC contracts out the processing of voting papers but, as Electoral Officer, Dean deals with all the issues that can attract public interest during the electoral cycle from the calling of nominations, local campaign complaints and the scrutiny of electoral expenses. Dean suggests patience and a sense of humour are requisites for successful handling of the role of EO.

Dale Ofsoske is Managing Director of Election Services, providing electoral services, including assistance with democratic reviews, to a large number of local authorities.

He is an experienced electoral officer (since 1985), foundation member and deputy chair to the former Taituarā Electoral Working Party, current member of the Taituarā Electoral Sub-Committee and honorary Taituarā member. Dale is electoral officer for a number of councils, including Auckland Council, and brings his expertise and widespread knowledge on electoral matters to this forum.

James Baty is a Wairoa native and proud to be from ‘Space Coast New Zealand’ home to the world’s only privately-operated space launch site, based on the magnificent Māhia Peninsula. He is currently the Corporate Services Manager and Electoral Officer at Wairoa District Council where he has conducted a number of elections, by-elections, representation reviews and polls. Educated at Victoria University of Wellington, James previously worked at the Ministry of Economic Development (now the MBIE) as an Intellectual Property Advisor.

Donald has worked for in local government-related roles for the Local Government Commission and the Department of Internal Affairs for a number of years.

This included working for the Commission in the late 1980s when the New Zealand-wide reorganisation of local government took place and then continuously since 1997. Activities since then have included 9 rounds of representation reviews, several reorganisation processes, and the determination of boundaries, wards and local board arrangements for the Auckland Council in 2010.

For the Department of Internal Affairs, Donald was for a number of years Manager, Local Government Services which included responsibility for some electoral matters – the STV calculator, approval of voting documents and election monitoring. This was carried out alongside the Rates Rebate Scheme, the National Dogs Database and the Lake Taupo Harbourmaster.

Susan is a Senior Advisor with nine years’ experience in local government. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University of Wellington, and her expertise lies in democracy, governance, and regulation which she has honed through working at Taituarā and Hutt City Council.

Susan is known for being open to new ideas which she uses to provide high quality analysis and advice on issues affecting local communities and local authorities. Currently, she is working in Sector Performance, where she is dedicated to improving elections, democracy, and regulatory matters by providing best practice advice and advocacy to support local government staff.

Susan worked as a Registered Nurse in her previous career which shaped her professional journey for collaborative problem-solving and the ability to draw on a range of expertise to achieve shared goals.

In her free time, Susan enjoys biking and playing her guitar which she finds fun, plus they have the added bonuses of keeping her fitness up and being creative.

Gisborne born and bred and living the Wainui beachfront lifestyle Heather is an ex physiotherapist who decided in 2012 she wanted a change from treating patients. She was given an opportunity to cover for Council’s Committee Secretary who was on parental leave – interesting considering she only types with two fingers and now is the Democracy & Support Services Manager. Heather has found working in local government has been a refreshing change from the health sector and says that unlike health, local government has a real ability to effect change at a local level.

Seán oversees the development, maintenance and dissemination of the knowledge base and the delivery of leadership development across the sector.

Seán is a passionate advocate and believer in the role of local government and the benefits it can bring to our daily lives and wellbeing. He has worked for several local authorities in a wide range of roles and responsibilities. Seán holds a BA Hons in Government, is a qualified accountant with postgraduate qualifications in management and communications, and was a Resource Management Commissioner Chair. Seán completed a Masters in Public Policy, researching 'How New Zealand’s Directly Elected Mayors get things done' – a shortened version of which was published in Policy Quarterly and more recently contributed a chapter to a book on the 2022 local elections.

Outside of work, Seán spends time being second favourite parent to his two dogs, running, reading, and playing squash (all very badly).