Both incumbent Mayor Tamah Alley and Charlie Sanders, of Cromwell, said Central Otago’s unique character was important to voters along with housing affordability.
As the closing of voting looms, both Mr Sanders and Mrs Alley said balancing economic opportunity and housing affordability were the challenges they had observed were important to voters.
The third candidate, Mark Quinn, of Roxburgh, said he was focused on removing connection with Local Government New Zealand, restructuring the council and a forensic audit.
Unlike the last election, this year Central Otago voters have a choice of mayoral candidate.
In 2022, Tim Cadogan stood unopposed and in 2019 then councillor Victoria Bonham challenged Mr Cadogan who had won the mayoralty in the 2016 election. That year, he ran against then mayor Tony Lepper and councillor Martin McPherson.
This year, the mayoral candidates come from three different wards in the regions.
Mr Quinn said he believed people did not vote because they were "fed up with the level of dictatorship and deceit coming from [the] council".
Mr Sanders thought people were feeling less connected to the present councillors because they were not being listened to.
"People have noticed that we change councillors but policies and projects carry on as before."
Mrs Alley pointed out that western democracies had lost sight of how hard-won the right to vote really was.
"We’re more connected than ever online, yet more disconnected from our civic responsibilities."
On Monday afternoon, 33.23% of votes had been cast in Central Otago. That was similar to 2016 (33.32%) at the same time. It was ahead of 2022 (29.31%) but well behind 2016 (44.57%).
Total votes in 2016 were 62.06%, in 2019 it was 56.27% and in 2022, fewer than half of potential voters exercised their right, just 46.85% making their voices heard.
Perhaps those who have yet to deliver their voting forms should consider comedian George Carlin, who once said "if you don’t vote, you lose the right to complain".
The deadline to mail votes has passed but they can be made in person until noon on Saturday at supermarkets around the region as well as service centre libraries that are open on Saturday.
The four questions were:
1. The return so far is ahead of last election but well short of 2016. Why do you think more people have voted this time around?
2. How urgent is it to get more people voting?
3. Why do you think people are not more engaged in local body elections?
4. As your campaign draws to a close, what do you believe are the top three concerns of voters in Central Otago? Below are the responses from the candidates as they provided them.
Mark Quinn
1. That’s easy, this council is far from transparent or honest, 57.4 % of the rate payers say nooo and we keep our water, the council ignores the ratepayer ... another fact ... The council has 1 staff member per 56 ratepayers!!!! Amongst the worst in NZ.
The mayor denies this, but 228 staff plus 35 vacancies equalled 263 when I went to school. NOW divide that into 14833 ratepayers, that’s 1 in 56 staff per ratepayer ... why does the incumbent deny these and other issues ...
It’s called failing to be transparent or honest ... councils needs to be cleaned out of the deliberate deceit.
2. Very urgent!! Too many people have been deceived too long and don’t know what’s going to happen with two sets of rates and the 80million they are going to borrow behind your back in the next two years.
With the level of deceit we need to clean out the people who don’t work for the ratepayer but take direction from local government.
3. That’s obvious, most ratepayers are fed up with the level of dictatorship and deceit coming from this council who have no interest in your health or our lives.
Take the lime in the water then no water in summer ... it’s been going on for years so where does the 60million in rates go and where has the 500million gone in the last 6 years under these leaders? TIME FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT!!!!
4. After rolling these council staff working for local government, then ...
My first is a restructure...
My second is a forensic audit.
My third is water before anything else ... Put a freeze on all spending that is not core infrastructure.
Charlie Sanders
1. People want change. It’s encouraging to see numbers ahead of the last election.
I believe more people are voting this time because there’s a growing awareness that local decisions — on infrastructure, rates, and essential services, have a direct impact on daily life.
People are also seeing that council leadership shapes the long-term future of our communities, from water quality to economic development.
That said, many still haven’t returned their votes, which shows there’s more work to do in connecting with residents and highlighting how important their voice is.
2. Increasing voter participation is urgent. Every vote counts, and local elections are where decisions are made that affect rates, roads, and community services — things people notice every day.
A strong turnout ensures council truly reflects the will of the community.
I believe people don’t vote because, the council make decisions that leave residents feeling distanced or disconnected from what the residents actually want, which has eroded trust in local government.
3. People are feeling less connected to the present councillors as the promises made by some have been ignored, creating feelings of disengagement because submissions are not being listened to, and decisions are finally made behind closed doors without further consultation from all affected groups.
People have noticed that we change councillors, but policies and projects carry on as before.
Overcoming this requires Good solid leadership and build a team with honesty, integrity, listening first and representing the best interests of the people by clearer communication, more accessible information, and initiatives that show people how council decisions can impact on their lives.
4. As my campaign draws to a close, it’s clear from conversations across Central Otago that voters have three main concerns.
First, rates and financial management: residents want a council that is fiscally responsible, transparent in spending, and focused on value for money.
Secondly infrastructure — particularly water, wastewater, roads — remains a top priority. People want essential services delivered efficiently and reliably, without unnecessary cost.
Third, growth and development: communities are concerned about balancing economic opportunities, housing affordability, and sustainability while maintaining Central Otago’s unique character.
Tamah Alley
1. Multiple years of double-digit rates increases have reminded people that when councils spend money, it’s their money. For too long, local government has been "out of sight, out of mind", and the costs of yesterday’s deferrals have landed squarely on today’s ratepayers.
People are understandably paying attention now.
A contested mayoralty always helps too — it sparks healthy debate and gives voters a choice.
2. If you care about the future of Central Otago — that it stays affordable, thriving, and a place where each generation pays its own way — then voting is one of the most important things you can do this year. It’s your chance to help shape what comes next.
3. Across the world, western democracies have lost sight of how hard-won the right to vote really was.
We’re more connected than ever online, yet more disconnected from our civic responsibilities. It can also be hard to get to know candidates and what they actually stand for.
When the field is crowded — like Dunedin’s 16 mayoral candidates — people glance at the list, feel overwhelmed and switch off.
4. Housing affordability: for families, workers, and older residents wanting to stay local.
How councils fund growth and infrastructure: finding smarter, fairer ways to share the cost.
And protecting what makes Central Otago special: our landscapes, heritage, and communities.
