It also wants to know if people would like to see more councillors appointed and elected to community boards, with voting rights, and if they support iwi representatives being appointed to council with voting rights?
The council says in a statement that the Representation Review 2024 is people’s chance to think about how the council can represent their community in a fair and effective way.
“Back in 2021, we conducted a comprehensive representation review. We do this at least once every six years to ensure the council’s structure accurately reflects our diverse communities. In 2024, we’re circling back to ask: do you feel fairly and effectively represented?” the statement says.
“Specifically, we’re interested in your thoughts on the current boundary of the district-wide Māori Ward adopted by the council in 2021. There are four councillors representing this ward. Are you happy with this arrangement? There is an option to have more than one Māori Ward (up to four). How many Māori Wards would provide effective and fair representation for our district?”
The council also wants to know if the number of councillors appointed to community boards provides fair and effective representation.
Currently, Māori Ward councillors sitting on community boards lack voting rights. They can provide advice but cannot formally make decisions.
“Should Māori Ward councillors be appointed to and vote on community boards?”
The council is also considering a name change for the Whatuwhiwhi subdivision in the Te Hiku Ward, which includes Awanui.
It has suggested renaming it Karikari Awanui subdivision and wants to know if that name change suits - and if not, what suggested name change would people want?
Māori Ward councillors are elected at large to represent the whole district. There is an option to have more than one Māori Ward (up to four) and people are asked how many Māori Wards would provide effective and fair representation for the district?
The council is also considering a name change for the Whatuwhiwhi subdivision in the Te Hiku Ward, which includes Awanui, and has suggested renaming it Karikari Awanui subdivision.
It asks if the name change suits, and if not, what name should be used for the change?
The call for public feedback on the subdivision name change is counter to a recent decision to include the area’s traditional indigenous name Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika in the council logo, which did did not garner any requests for feedback or public input.
The council said there was difference. Updating of the district’s Māori name to Te Kaunihera o Te Hiku o te Ika occurred to correct the previous te reo Māori name Te Kaunihera o Tai Tokerau ki te Raki (Northland to the North). This was a reverse translation of the district’s English name, which is not a natural name that Māori language speakers use to refer to the district. The name of our council has not been changed and remains Far North District Council.
During A September 7 meeting, there was a discussion about revisiting the council’s te reo Māori name. It was asked at this time whether a resolution was required to see this changed. Staff advice was that a “trading name’' or name different to the official name can be changed anytime and does not form part of the formal representation review process and so the name in Māori could be done at an operational level as an outcome of the policy direction set by governance with the passing of the Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Policy
The council said an initial proposal will be developed based on the feedback. People will then have another chance to have input during the formal consultation on the proposal in May-June 2024.
The final proposal will likely be adopted in August and will be set for the next local body elections in 2025 and stay in effect until the next review.
To take part go to www.fndc.govt.nz/Whats-new/Have-your-say/Representation-Review-2024.
