Positive outcome from Local Government Commission process says North Shore Mayor

The final boundaries for the Auckland Council and local boards are positive for the North Shore community and provide a good basis for democratic representation, North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams said today.

“Many of the changes that were recommended by our council and our community have been accepted by the Commission,” Mayor Williams said.

“In essence, the southern part of the city, south of Sunset Road, becomes the North Shore Ward, with around 143,000 people represented by two Auckland councillors elected at large. The northern part of the city becomes the Albany Ward, with around 139,000 people represented by two Auckland councillors, and now includes Whenuapai, Hobsonville and Herald Island in the west. As proposed in our submission, Campbells Bay has been moved by the Commission from the southern North Shore Ward into the northern Albany Ward.”

“The local boards show more change in this final determination from the draft boundaries, with the Glenfield-Birkenhead Local Board being renamed Kaipatiki, the electoral subdivisions removed, and the number of members has risen from six to eight all elected at large. “

“The Takapuna-Devonport Local Board is now the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board and again the electoral subdivisions have been removed. The number of members has risen from five to six elected at large.”

“The Hibiscus-Albany–East Coast Bays Local Board has been split in two. There will now be a Hibiscus and Bays Local Board which covers from Campbells Bay in the south, and follows East Coast Road north to Long Bay and takes in the Hibiscus Coast area from the motorway east to Waiwera. The board is subdivided into two areas, Hibiscus and East Coast Bays, each with four members. The remaining area west of East Coast Road and including Whenuapai, Hobsonville, and Herald Island will be known as the Upper Harbour Local Board. The number of members will be six at large over this board area.”

“This has been a robust consultation process with over 700 public submissions, and the final outcome indicates that the commissioners have taken the time to consider and respond to the community’s wishes. This has been a good process and I wholeheartedly commend Commission Chairperson Sue Piper and her team for their considered approach,” Mayor Williams said.

Mayor Williams urged the Auckland Governance Select Committee, considering the third Auckland Bill, to adopt the same open minded and conciliatory approach in response to submissions from the community as that adopted by the Local Government Commission.

“Submissions on the third Auckland Bill have sent a loud and clear message that the local boards must be given real powers in their own right, set out in the law, and that the new council companies that will deal with up to 90 percent of civic activity must be reined in and brought back under democratic control. Let’s hope the Parliamentarians are listening as well as the Local Government Commission did.” Mayor Williams said.

ENDS

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