The 2019 local authority elections are looming on the horizon.Will you be ready for Vote 2019? Our two-day programme features 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 online voting, the ins and outs of managing social media during elections, and how to improve voter turnout in your community.
- 15 Oct 2018-16 Oct 2018
- 09:00 - 17:00
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- Harbourside Function Venue (formerly Macs Function Centre), Wellington, New Zealand
- 815.00 (plus GST) Members
- 915.00 (plus GST) Non Members
About this event
Overview
The 2018 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 Taituarā’s updated Electoral Code of Practice with interactive group work and all the latest news on the online voting trial, amendments to the Local Electoral Act, emerging practice in community engagement and dealing with social media and Vote 2019 - 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 Taituarā’s Electoral Subcommittee, the Electoral Commission, Local Government New Zealand, the Department of Internal Affairs and New Zealand Post.
In response to delegate feedback, we have refined the programme to start with sessions focussed on the needs of new Electoral Officers before broadening the reach out to the wider audience, and we are supporting your learning with pre-readings and post-event support.
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 2019 local authority elections.
Programme
Day One
9.00am Welcome and Introductions
Dean Heiford, Chair, Electoral Subcommittee and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
9.05am Table Top & Learning Objectives
Richard Mabon, Principal Advisor, Sector Improvement, Taituarā
Part One: Elections 101 - Essential information for new Electoral Officers
9.25am How Elections Work
Dale Ofsoske, Managing Director, Elections Services Ltd
Lynlee Baily, Manager Democratic Services, Porirua City Council
An overview of the people, processes and tools that make an election tick
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
For background reading, please see Parts 1, 2 & 3 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls
10.35am Morning Tea and Cellphone Clearance Break
11.05am A Survivor's Guide to Local Elections
Clare Sullivan, Governance and Democracy Manager, Southland District Council,
Mark Low, Corporate Planning Manager, Timaru District Council,
Rick Dunn, Democracy Manager, Rotorua Lakes Council
Sarah Nichols, Governance Manager, Waimakariri District Council
Real life stories, tips, tricks and advice from experienced electoral officers on the most important things you can do to deliver successful local elections.
12.15pm Lunch Break
Part Two: Election Management - Communication, Project Management and Wellbeing
1.15pm Welcome to Part Two
Dean Heiford, Chair, Electoral Subcommittee and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
Dean will re-cap the morning session, welcome electoral officers joining the programme at this point, and introduce the afternoon sessions.
1.25pm Communication - The Human Connection & the Social Dimension
Aimee Driscoll, Communications Manager, Tauranga City Council
Warwick Lampp, Chief Returning Officer, electionz.com
Richard Mabon, Principal Advisor Sector Improvement, Taituarā
Mandy Boht é , National Manager, Enrolment & Community Engagement, Electoral Commission
Successful election communication keeps projects on track, stakeholders happy and improves voter participation.It occurs against a backdrop of local politics that brings its own unique flavour, and social media is now an established part of the campaign communications toolkit for electoral officers and candidates alike. Our speakers will share advice on managing the many aspects of election communications with the latest tips on dealing with social media, brief you on the joint LGNZ/Taituarā Vote 2019 campaign and share what the Electoral Commission is doing to assist local authorities.
For background reading, please see Part 11 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls
2.15pm Plan Your Work & Work Your Plan - Election Project Management
Anusha Guler, Head of Governance, Wellington City Council
Mali Ahipene, Manager, Democracy Services, Waikato Regional Council
An election campaign requires the same disciplines of managing timeframes, deadlines, budgets, risks and stakeholders as any other project. Anusha will talk about how Wellington City Council managed the 2016 elections and Mali will discuss the importance of working with your stakeholders.
3.00pm Afternoon Tea & Cellphone Clearance Break
3.30pm Modernising Voting
Marguerite Delbet, General Manager Democracy Services, Auckland Council
Dean Heiford, Chair, Electoral Subcommittee and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
One of the major policy projects ‘on the books’ for the next 18 months is the modernising voting review, including work towards a trial of online voting. Marguerite and Dean will cover the progress that’s been made as of October including progress towards a trial.
4.15pm "Secure Your Own Oxygen Mask First" - Staying Well in Election Year
Declan Scott, Senior Consultant, The Resilience Institute International Limited
5.00pm Happy Hour
Day Two
9.00am Welcome to Day Two
Dean Heiford, Chair, Electoral Subcommittee and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council
Part Three: Candidates, Votes and Voting -
9.05am War stories" - The Service Provider's Perspective
Dale Ofsoske, Managing Director, Elections Services Ltd
Warwick Lampp, Chief Returning Officer, electionz.com
Insights from the sectors’ most experienced electoral officers into the good, the bad and the OMG of local elections and how you can work most effectively with your provider to run a successful local election.
9.45am Working with Candidates - A Candidate's View
Councillor David Lee, Wellington City Council
An elected member shares their experiences standing for office in local elections and offers their thoughts on how electoral officers can perform their legal duties and still be “customer-friendly” for candidates.
For background reading, please see Parts 8, 9 & 10 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls
10.10 am NZ Post - the big picture
Matt Geor, Head of Mail (acting) NZ Post
Declining mail volumes are continuing and accelerating, with the 2017/18 NZ Post half-year report disclosing 38 million fewer letters compared to the same period last year. How does NZ Post respond to this trend and what does it mean for local authority elections? A member of the NZ Post senior leadership team discusses the "big picture" for mail delivery
10.30am Morning Tea and Cellphone Clearance Break
11.00am Get your rolls right and your papers perfect
Dale Ofsoske, Managing Director, Elections Services Ltd
Peter Avison, Manager Digital Solutions - CCM, New Zealand Post
Ross McPherson, Enrolment Operations Manager, 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 & 13 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls
12.00noon Voting, Counting and Declaring Results
Mark Low, Corporate Planning Manager, Timaru District Council,
Clare Sullivan, Governance and Democracy Manager, Southland District Council
Mark and Clare 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
12.40pm Lunch Break
1.25pm After the Ball is Over - Post-Election Tasks
Sarah Nichols, Governance Manager, Waimakariri District Council
Rick Dunn, Democracy Manager, Rotorua Lakes Council
Just because you’ve counted the last vote doesn’t mean the job is finished.Sarah and Rick will take you through dealing with candidate deposits and post-election record-keeping, what to do if your election is the subject of a judicial recount or inquiry, and some insights on induction for your new Council.
For background reading, please see Parts 17 & 18 of the Taituarā Code of Good Practice for the Management of Local Authority Elections and Polls
2.00pm Let’s Get Regional
Mali Ahipene, Manager, Democracy Services, Waikato Regional Council
This activity assembles regional groups to prepare you for working alongside your neighbouring councils on the conduct of regional council, district health board, and licensing trust elections and the delivery of local election promotion campaigns.
For background reading, please see the Taituarā Guidance note to assist councils when convening regional meetings in preparation for 2019 Local Elections, templates for Memoranda of Understanding between territorial authorities and regional councils, licensing trusts, and district health boards, and the Elections Cost Allocation Template
2.30pm General Q & A
Anusha Guler, Head of Governance, Wellington City Council
Anusha and her hand-picked panel of experts are at your disposal to answer your questions on every aspect of local elections.
3.15pm Summary and closure
Dean Heiford, Chair, Electoral Subcommittee and Manager, Economic, Community and Support Services, Marlborough District Council