Elected before the election

With two months to go until election day, four of the region’s councillors have already been elected – without an election.

Scott Adams, Sally Arbuckle and Gerald Hope have all been elected as councillors in the Wairau-Awatere Ward as they were the only three to be nominated for the three-seat ward.

Allanah Burgess has also been elected unopposed in the Māori Ward. Marlburians will get to vote in the local body elections though, with three people being nominated for mayor, including incumbent Nadine Taylor, along with Shaun Brown and Ni Fruean.

The Blenheim ward, which has seven positions available, will have 16 candidates fighting for those seats. In the Marlborough Sounds Ward, six candidates will vie for just three seats.

Nominations for the Marlborough District Council elections closed at midday on Friday and voting opens on September 9 and runs until October 10 with the preliminary results declared on October 11.

Electoral Officer Dean Heiford said it was important that residents have their say on who represents the Marlborough community by voting in the 2025 elections.

“Local elections decide who represents us on Council. Councillors make important decisions about our daily lives and the future of our towns and communities.”