Hey Masterton, the ballot boxes are coming to you!
Missed the post for your local body election votes? Never fear, the mobile ballot box is here!
Masterton District Council is putting a ballot box on the road on Friday (11 October) to enable voters around the district to drop their votes in without having to go to the Council office.
The ballot box will be travelling in the care of two council staff from Tinui to Castlepoint, and on to Riversdale on Friday morning, before calling into different areas of Masterton in the afternoon.
Masterton District Council Deputy Electoral Officer Harriet Kennedy said the aim was to get as many people voting as possible.
“Around the country, voting numbers have been low – but Masterton has been bucking the trend and is on track to have a bigger turnout than the last election.
We want to keep that going and give people in rural areas, who may not have time to call into the council office, the chance to get their votes in.”
Voters can still drop completed voting packs into the ballot box at the Council office at 161 Queen Street, Masterton -- the Council office is open 8am-4.30pm on weekdays, and on Saturday will be open from 9am until the 12noon deadline for voting.
If voters are not enrolled, or have mislaid voting papers (or they haven’t arrived) they can still vote by completing the enrolment process at the office and making a special vote. But voters wanting to make a special vote on Saturday must be enrolled by the end of Friday.
The mobile ballot box will be available at the following locations and times on Friday:
8-8.30am: outside Tinui Café & Bar
9am-10am: Castlepoint Store
11am-12noon: Riversdale Beach Store
1-1.30pm: Lansdowne shopping centre
2- 2.30pm: Upper Plain shops
3-3.30pm: Kuripuni shopping centre
4-4.30pm: Solway shops
5-5.30pm: Eastside Superstore, 92 Colombo Road
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
85.6% Yes
-
13.2% No
-
1.2% Other - I'll share below
Railing planters
To gain extra growing space, make and hang these easy-to-build planters on almost any wooden fence or deck railing. Use Resene FX Blackboard Paint so you can easily identify what plants are in each. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.