Re: the editorial ‘The cheek of it' (The Weekend Sun, April 10 under the subheading ‘Out in the cold'.

I draw your attention to Tauranga residents and ratepayers still having the opportunity to cast their votes in October this year as the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is undertaking Local Body Elections.

In Tauranga we have five general seats and one in the Mauao constituency.

Candidate nominations will open on Friday, July 15, closing at noon on Friday, August 12. Voting will open Friday, September 16 and close at midday on Saturday, October 8.

Potential candidates and Tauranga voters can keep up-to-date with the regional council's elections at: www.boprc.govt.nz/elections.

The cost of holding regional council elections in the Tauranga and Mauao constituencies will be approximately $435,000 given there will be no cost-sharing between Tauranga City Council and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Doug Leeder, chairman, Bay of Plenty Regional Council.