The Government's decision to remove the need for local government election candidates to display their address on advertising is welcome after a 'pretty toxic” 2019 election in Tauranga.

Currently anyone standing in a local government election is required to display a physical address on any campaign advertising material they produce and for many this is their home address.

Late last week Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced a law change would be made enabling other contact options to be used, such as an email address, post office box or phone number.

'I have heard growing concerns that candidates who publicise their home addresses may face undue risk to their physical safety, particularly for women and visible minorities, and that this is likely to discourage democratic participation,” said Mahuta in a statement.

Former councillor Steve Morris successfully ran in the 2019 Tauranga City Council elections and says it was 'pretty toxic in any regard”.

'The 2019 election was bizarre in how nasty it was from the get go,” he says.

Former councillor Steve Morris. File image/SunLive

Morris had his car vandalised and received verbal abuse in public. He says it was unknown whether the vandalism was because of the election or 'local vagrants who'd do it anyway”.

Despite having his address public and on campaign material, Morris was not worried about it and never had any issues directed to his home.

He did see how it could cause concern for some people, especially seeing two of his colleagues at the time received death threats, which Morris says were dealt with by the courts.

The requirement for an address was 'a needless bit of bureaucracy and extra printing” especially seeing voters could see if a candidate lived in their ward on the voting papers, says Morris.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council CEO John Holyoake is in favour of the change as well.

'The removal of physical addresses from campaign material is a step in the right direction to meeting the needs of today's society and ensuring we have a more inclusive and diverse local government environment,” he says.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council CEO John Holyoake. Supplied image.

'Council is the grassroots of democracy in Aotearoa – every day we make decisions that matter to our community – and so those wanting to put their hand up to serve their community should feel safe and supported.

'Because at the end of the day, we are all entitled to our own opinions and should feel comfortable in the decisions we make,” says Holyoake.

Mahuta says: 'Local democracy thrives when a broad range of individuals with different perspectives and experiences stand for public office, bringing a contest of ideas.

'The requirement for contact information on campaign advertisements is supposed to promote transparency, not dissuade people from putting their hands up to represent their local communities.”

She says a Local Electoral Amendment Bill will be introduced into Parliament replacing the requirement to include a physical address.

'There have been cross-party discussions on the bill, and about having it passed in time for upcoming local body nominations, due to take place on 15 July.

'This change was recommended by and supported by Local Government NZ and will bring certainty to campaigning rules for the upcoming local body elections,” says Mahuta.

Local government candidate nominations open on July 15 and close on August 12.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.