Monday 30 July 2018

Council approves consultation on representation

Kaipara District Council is seeking public feedback on its proposal for representation arrangements for the 2019 and 2022 elections.

Council adopted its initial proposal and approved public consultation at its meeting on Thursday 26 July 2018.

Representation arrangements include:

• the number of Councillors to be elected to Council;

• whether Councillors are elected by wards or by the district as a whole;

• the number and boundaries of wards and number of Councillors that will represent them; and

• whether or not to have community boards.

The Local Electoral Act 2001 requires local authorities to review their representation arrangements at least once every six years. The last review in Kaipara was in 2012 for the 2013 and 2016 local elections, so Council needs to undertake a review for the next two local elections in 2019 and 2022.

Currently, the ratio of population to Councillors deviates from the overall district ratio by +14.45 per cent in the Otamatea Ward, which covers Mangawhai, Kaiwaka and Maungaturoto, Paparoa and surrounds. This means that Otamatea currently has too many people per Councillor than other wards in the district.

The Local Electoral Act does not permit any deviation of more than 10 per cent, so Council has proposed the establishment of a new Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward, making four wards, with two Councillors representing each.

Council’s initial proposal for the representation review differs from the current scenario as follows:

• creating a new Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward;

• expanding Otamatea Ward northwest to Tokatoka Road, including Ruawai;

• reducing West Coast-Central Ward (from Tokatoka Road southeast to Otamatea); and

• having two Councillors per ward.

The proposal has no changes to the Dargaville Ward and the Mayor is required to be elected by the whole district. The consultation will seek public input on whether Kaipara District Council should move forward with this proposal for representation change.

Feedback received from neighbouring local authorities, iwi and community advisory groups during the pre-consultation phase contributed to the proposal.

Consultation opens on Wednesday 01 August and closes on Friday 31 August 2018.

There will be drop in sessions across the District where people can ask questions of Councillors and staff, as well as fill in feedback forms;

Tuesday 07 August – Ruawai – Tokatoka War Memorial Hall, 6 – 7pm

Saturday 11 August – Mangawhai – Markets, Molesworth Drive, 9am onwards

Tuesday 14 August – Maungaturoto – Maungaturoro Country Club, Bickerstaffe Road, 6 – 7 pm

Submitters will also have the option of presenting their views at hearings scheduled for the week commencing 10 September.

Representation review booklets and submissions forms are available at libraries and Council’s Customer Service

Centres from Wednesday 01 August 2018.

Online submission forms and further information are available on Council’s website: www.kaipara.govt.nz

Further information on the Representation Review is also available on the Local Government website: www.lgc.govt.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media