Featherston General Ward By-election 2026
A by-election is required to fill an extraordinary vacancy for the Featherston General Ward. The vacancy has arisen from the resignation of Colin Olds.
Nominations have been received from Peter BIGGS and Brenda WEST (Independent). As the number of nominations received exceeds the number of vacancies, a voting process is required and will be conducted by postal voting using the First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system. Voting will open on Monday 31 August and close at 12 noon on Friday 2 October 2026
Read the notice of By-election for the Featherston General Ward here.
Read the further notice of By-election for the Featherston General Ward here.
Candidates
Contact details for the Candidates are:
Peter Biggs 021 308 828 or thinkbiggsy@gmail.com
Brenda West 021 273 6325 or west.bren@gmail.com
Peter Biggs
My principal residence is within the Featherston General Ward area.
Experienced. Connected. Committed to Featherston Paetūmōkai.
My principal place of residence is in the Featherston Ward.
My family and I moved here 29 years and have dedicated myself to helping our community to flourish. We have big challenges ahead. Amalgamation is first, and I pledge to work my hardest to achieve the right outcome for Featherston. Our voice must be heard in Council to get the investment we need. Also, household budgets are tight – so Council must be disciplined about its spending and deliver value.
I’ve had a successful career in leading businesses. I know how to advocate effectively, and I have extensive governance experience and strong connections. I know how to leverage relationships and resources for the benefit of our town and community. And I have a track record of getting things done and bringing people with me.
thinkbiggsy@gmail.com 021 308 828
Brenda West
Independent
My principal residence is within the Featherston General Ward area.
I am standing for the Featherston Ward because I believe our community deserves experienced, informed, and inclusive representation.
Having served two terms on the Featherston Community Board and one term on the SWDC (2019–2022), I understand the responsibilities of local government and the importance of listening, asking questions, and making well-informed decisions.
South Wairarapa is entering a period of significant change. Decisions around water services, infrastructure, housing, economic growth, and the future of local government will shape our district for years to come. These decisions require careful consideration and strong community representation.
As an IT Consultant, I bring analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a practical approach to governance. I will represent the whole Featherston Ward—our township and rural communities alike—and work to ensure every voice is heard as we build a strong future for South Wairarapa.
Brenda West – A Voice for the Whole Community.
Key dates
| Activity | Date |
| Notice of by-election | Thursday 25 June 2026 |
| Nominations open | Thursday 25 June 2026 |
| Nominations close | Thursday 23 July 2026, 12noon |
| Voting packs posted out | Friday 28 August 2026 (approximate date) |
| Voting opens | Monday 31 August 2026 |
| Last day to post vote | Friday 25 September 2026 |
| Voting closes | Friday 2 October 2026, 12noon |
| Progress and preliminary results announced | Friday 2 October 2026 |
| Final results announced | Monday 5 October 2026 |
How to Vote
Residents who reside in the Featherston Ward and are on the general roll will get a voting pack in the mail from 31 August 2026. It can take a couple of weeks for the voting packs to reach you.
The voting packs will have:
- your voting forms,
- information on how to fill out the forms,
- information about the candidates,
- an envelope to post your voting forms back.
You can vote in two different ways
- Put your vote in the post, you need to do this by Friday 25 September 2026 or
- Put your vote in one of the orange voting bins, the last day for this will be 12noon on Friday 2 October 2026.
The Orange Bins are located at
- Freshchoice Supermarket Featherston: 43 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston
Open hours: Monday – Sunday, 7am – 9pm - Featherston Library: 70-72 Fitzherbert Street, Featherston
Open hours: Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5pm, Saturday 9.30am – 12pm - South Wairarapa District Council office, 19 Kitchener Street Martinborough.
Open hours: Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 3pm
If your voting pack doesn’t arrive you can cast a special vote. If you would like support to vote at home or to cast a special vote, contact our electoral team by calling 06 306 9611 between 9am and 3pm or send an email to elections@swdc.govt.nz
Special votes
You can cast a special vote if you:
- have not received a voting pack in the mail
- have lost or damaged your voting pack
- have not enrolled to vote on time
- will be travelling during the voting period
- are eligible to vote but your name does not appear on the final electoral roll
- are turning 18 after the electoral roll closes but before election day.
To cast a special vote – contact our electoral team by calling 06 306 9611 between 9am and 3pm or send an email to elections@swdc.govt.nz
Enrol
Residential electors within the Featherston General Ward area who are not listed on the electoral roll for this by-election can enrol or amend their enrolment details on the electoral roll:
- Online at www.vote.nz
- By calling 0800 36 76 56 to ask for a form to be sent to you
- By texting your name and address to 3676 to get a form sent to you
- By email request to enquiries@elections.govt.nz
Nominations
Nominations for the vacancy opened on Thursday 25 June 2026 and closed noon Thursday 23 July 2026.
Nomination forms can be found here and information around what is required for nomination can be found here or email elections@swdc.govt.nz for more details.
Featherston Community Board By-election 2026
Final results
A by-election was required to fill an extraordinary vacancy for the Featherston Community Board. The vacancy arose from the resignation of Tui Rutherford.
Read the full public notice here and the full further notice of by-election here.
See the official Final Result document.
The final result for the South Wairarapa District Council Featherston Community Board by-election that closed at midday on Friday, 5 June 2026 is:
| Featherston Community Board (1 vacancy) | Votes Received |
| BALDWIN, Joanna | 470 |
| BLEAKLEY, Claire | 178 |
| DOBBIE, Jessica | 138 |
| COLTMAN, Karen | 70 |
| INFORMAL | 4 |
| BLANK VOTING PAPERS | 2 |
The voter return was 31.58%, being 862 votes.
Preliminary results
See the official Preliminary Results document.
Progress results
See the official Progress Result document.
Voting returns
Visit electionz.com to see how many votes have been returned.
Once final election results are released candidates have until 31 July 2026 to declare election expenses. Forms can be found here and returned to elections@swdc.govt.nz. Once returned the forms will be made public.
Candidates
Joanna BALDWIN
BALDWIN Joanna
My principal residence is within the Featherston Community Board area.
I’m a dedicated resident who chose Featherston as the place to raise my tamariki because of its strong community spirit and the way people look out for one another. Originally from Carterton, I spent over 20 years in Wellington gaining a mechanical trade and working in large corporate and Government roles before returning to Wairarapa.
Many will know me from my time as Manager of the Featherston Community Centre, where I supported local charities, events, outreach services, and projects that meet real community needs. I also volunteer widely and, until recently, served as Managing Editor of the Phoenix News, sharing local stories and amplifying community voices.
As a member of the disabled community with governance training and practical qualifications, I value manaakitanga, whakawhanaungatanga, and aroha, and am committed to an equitable, inclusive, accessible, and connected Featherston.
Claire BLEAKLEY
BLEAKLEY Claire
My principal residence is within the Featherston Community Board area.
Kia ora,
I have lived in Featherston for 30 years, and have previously served as a community board member. I have actively participated in local groups, always with a passion for our friendly, resilient community and environment.
I will actively work to – Find affordable local solutions and expertise to address infrastructure issues; Focus on protecting the environment around the Wairarapa Moana; Address the challenges facing ratepayers and work in their interest; Productively engage with our elected members; Retain our special South Wairarapa nature, no amalgamation; Stand up for a democratic and diverse views; Respect feedback as the needs of the Featherston community; Support our youth and maintain our many sporting groups; Ensure that I am always accountable, transparent in my decisions; Listen, consult and advocate the ideas and challenges that Featherston has to the council.
Ngā mihi,
Claire Bleakley
027 348 6731
Karen COLTMAN
COLTMAN Karen
My principal residence is within the Featherston Community Board area.
I have enjoyed being on the Rugby Club Committee and the Featherston Community Centre Board and would be pleased to step up again.
I am so grateful for the fantastic opportunities my children have enjoyed and am committed to supporting the next families coming through. I am running the Katipo Op Shop in the old Lang’s building and (after costs) we donate to Sustainable Wairarapa. To me it feels that protecting our environment is a community priority, from the township to the coast and river. We need to be careful about urban sprawl and environmental damage.
I am confident in my ability to understand proposed Council policy and planning options and to communicate back to you. We have plenty to celebrate here and I am keen to encourage these happenings via the Featherston Community Board. Thank you for the opportunity to formally support you.
Jessica DOBBIE
DOBBIE Jessica
My principal residence is within the Featherston Community Board area.
My name is Jessica Dobbie. I am standing for the Featherston Community Board in the current by-elections. I have been a local for the past seven years and feel for the first time in my life that I have found somewhere to call home.
I love Featherston, it is a vibrant, warm and interesting place to live. I hope to be a voice for the library and the local environment as well as advocating for essential infrastructure improvements and maintenance for Featherston. I am currently home‑schooling my daughter. Before doing that I completed my Bachelor of Counselling and worked in youth mental health. If I am elected I hope to be able to help Featherston continue to be a great place to live.