Five candidates will contest the vacancy in Waikato Regional Council’s Waipa constituency in the upcoming by-election.

There is currently one vacancy in the Waipa constituency, following the recent death of council’s former deputy chairman, Barry O’Connor.

As there are more candidates than there are vacancies, Waikato Regional Council (trading as Environment Waikato) will hold a by-election on Friday, 20 October.

Waikato Regional Council has contracted Waipa District Council to run the voting process on its behalf.

The by-election will be conducted by postal vote under the first past the post electoral system.

Nominations for candidates closed on 31 August and the list of candidates has been finalised. The candidates are John Fisher, Fiona Judd, Juliet Macdonald, James Parlane and Ashley Reid.

Voting papers will be posted to electors from Thursday, 28 September to Tuesday, 3 October.

The voting period will open on Thursday, 28 September and close at noon on Friday, 20 October.

Voting documents can be returned by post (in the envelope provided) or hand delivered to:

• Waipa District Council Office, 101 Bank St, Te Awamutu
• Waipa District Council Cambridge Service Centre, 23 Wilson St, Cambridge.

Voting documents are to be progressively processed throughout the three-week voting period.

Applications to enrol as either a residential or ratepayer elector can be made up to noon on Friday, 20 October.