Dr Michael Bassett: Much hangs on how you vote on 12th October

Only a little more than two months to go until local body elections. Always, triennially, on the second Saturday in October. And there is so much hanging on the outcome this time. As voters, we need to hold existing councillors and their would-be successors to account on a range of issues. Rates of course, which these days seem always to run ahead of inflation, are the key issue. Extra slow completion of council work projects meaning endless orange cones, is another. Extravagant decisions which too many councils have already made, or are planning to make, need to be questioned. Too many people are saying they feel alienated from their local councils and won’t vote. This is dangerous. All candidates should be cross-questioned. It’s that time when we get the one chance in every three years to say truth to power: LISTEN TO US!

David Farrar: LGNZ Electoral recommendations

Some useful recommendations from the LGNZ working group on local elections.

Move to a nationally consistent system of in-person voting for all local elections that is as similar as possible to parliamentary elections over a two-week timeframe in which to vote, with polling booths in venues where people frequently visit. Preferably by the 2028 local elections or the 2031 local elections at the latest.

If you really want to boost turnout, then I would allow all three methods of voting – postal, in booths and online. Postal is dying, and in booths did not do well in the days before postal.

Karl du Fresne: Why shouldn't ACT have a go? The Left's been at it for decades

David Seymour’s announcement that ACT may stand candidates in council elections triggered a discussion on Nick Mills’ talkback show on Newstalk ZB this morning about whether political parties should get involved in local government. But that mischievous genie escaped from the bottle a very long time ago.

The Labour Party has long regarded local politics as fertile ground, both at district and regional levels, and always fields a slate of Wellington City Council candidates with the party’s formidable organisational resources behind them.