UPDATED 7.55AM There is concern voter turnout in this year's local body elections will be another flop, now online voting is off the table.

Associate Local Government Minister Louise Upston has decided not to go ahead with online voting due to security fears.

Eight councils had signed up to give it a go.

LISTEN ABOVE: Porirua mayor Nick Leggett speaks to Mike Hosking

Porirua mayor Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking it's disappointing the Government didn't try hard enough.

"We were getting the feeling a few months ago that the officials weren't really warming up to this, and that they probably didn't understand in a lot of cases how the technology works."

SEE ALSO: Online voting trial scrapped

Mr Leggett said we have to continue working on the idea, given only 40 per cent of eligible voters took part in the last local elections in 2013.

"I do worry that the Government have shut the doors somewhat. I think they should keep working on those regulations and work towards having a one-off trial, in an isolated community, in the next three years."

He said there's risk in everything we do online, including banking and passport applications.

"We want to be safe and secure and cautious, but actually we have to take a step and I think people will look back on this decision in years to come and think, crikey why did the Government not take action."