Cromwell’s David George is hoping for a seat on Central Otago District Council (CODC) in his fourth attempt at being an elected member for local government.

Elections 2025 are now officially open and candidates have until August 1 to submit their nomination.

David has decided to run for council after being unsuccessful in his bid for a seat on the Cromwell Community Board in 2023 and 2022, as well as for CODC when there was a by-election.

He told the Central App he came a “respectable last” each of those three times.

“The time for waffle is over - it is time for action,” he said.

David was a community worker in both Cromwell and Queenstown and since the 1970s has been active in reducing levels of addiction in the towns.

He recently made a submission on CODC’s Long Term Plan to improve childcare in the wider Cromwell areas, and advocated for a new school at Pisa Moorings.

He said that would help create a sense of community and take the pressure off Cromwell schools.

A former secretary of the local fruitgrowers’ association, he also wanted council to join forces with the horticulture industry and Members of Parliament to create a market for export cherries in Australia for the smaller fruit that ripened later in the season.

“We also need to keep our fine wool industry, along with the wine industry up front.”

A writer and historian, David and wife Anne have lived in the Lowburn Valley for 49 years and ran a small business before retiring to Cromwell.

“I encourage our young people and young families to register and to vote. To take an active interest in our community… because you are an essential part of it.”

Meanwhile, Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is calling for more people to put their hands up to stand in this year’s local elections in October. 

LGNZ chief executive Susan Freeman-Greene said a hallmark of healthy democracy was when people were willing to represent their community around the council table. 

“This year we’ll have 1,465 seats available across 66 councils, including 66 mayoral seats and 683 community board seats. There will also be 127 seats up for election across the 11 regional councils.”

At the last local election, there were 3,119 people standing across 1,607 seats across the country; a ratio of almost two people for every seat. 

Seven mayors were elected unopposed into their roles in the last election, while 40 percent of members elected for the first time.   

“Obviously we’d like to have more candidates standing, as evidence tells us that the more candidates who are contesting a seat, the higher the voter turnout will be. And ultimately, we want more New Zealanders heading to the polls to have their say; the 42 percent voter turnout at the 2022 local elections was not good enough,” Susan said.