No takers for vacant Hamilton City Council East Ward seat, just 13 days out from closing

Applications for the job opened in late May - but no one has put their name forward.
Applications for the job opened in late May - but no one has put their name forward. Photo credit: Getty Images

A vacant seat on the Hamilton City Council had no applicants just 13 days out from nominations closing - but it's now got a couple of takers after going public about a lack of interest.

The East Ward seat is absent following the death of councillor Margaret Forsyth in early May.

Applications for the job opened in late May - but by Wednesday, no one had put their name forward.

Council's Governance Manager and Deputy Electoral Officer Becca Brooke said the situation was unusual.

"We would expect to have received a handful of candidates by now. We encourage all aspiring leaders to put their hat in the ring and help lead our city for the next 12 months."

A spokesperson for the council told Newshub that by Thursday, a day after they went public about a lack of applicants, two people put their hand up for the position.

If no one had applied for the role, then the process would have started again - leaving the seat empty for another six to eight weeks.

The minimum salary for a Hamilton City councillor is $74,552 and a 2020 Local Government Offical Information Act request revealed more than 300 Hamilton City Council employees earn over $80,000 a year - with the chair of the committee earning $101,700 annually. 

Brooke warns anyone who would like the job needs to apply soon - as putting their name in on the last day won't cut it.

"Every nomination form has to be validated. If there's any issue on the form, or we haven't sighted proof of citizenship then the nomination will be invalid."

The role is open to any New Zealand citizen who is enrolled as a Parliamentary elector and nominated by two electors from the East Ward.