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Auckland City Council
Media release
27 November 2009
Council votes not to fill vacant seat
Auckland City Council has decided not to fill the seat left vacant following the resignation of Councillor Peseta Sam
Lotu-Iiga last month.
The legislation passed by government in preparation for restructuring Auckland specifically provides that there will be
no by-election in the period until the creation of the new Auckland Council in November 2010. The two options open to
council are to not replace Mr Lotu-Iiga or to nominate some one else to fill the position.
Councillors voted not fill Mr Lotu-Iiga’s seat in the Tamaki-Maungakiekie Ward for a variety of reasons including the
fact that area is well represented on local issues by two community boards and that the next election is only ten months
away.
Deputy Mayor David Hay pointed out that there would be considerable savings to ratepayers by leaving the seat vacant.
Mr Lotu-Iiga who is also the Member of Parliament for Maungakiekie has made a commitment to keep the council informed of
issues his constituents living in the ward bring to his attention.
Ends