NRC eyes new boundaries

Northland Regional Council is proposing a more community-focused method of representing Northlanders, abandoning what it says is an outdated current model based on the three district boundaries and replacing it with eight smaller constituencies.

That would increase elected membership from eight to nine, the cost of the extra councillor being met within the existing $388,840 salary pool.

Chairman Craig Brown said the proposal was designed to strengthen Northlanders' representation at the council table and to empower communities in better serving their needs and aspirations and contributing to regional decision-making.

Councils were legally required to review the way residents were represented every six years, a process that considered the number of councillors needed, electoral boundaries, how many councillors would be elected from each constituency and what those constituencies would be called.

"This review is a legal requirement, but after lengthy discussions over the past six months or so my fellow councillors and I believe it's time to move to a more equitable structure that better reflects the diversity of the region," he said.

"Our current representation arrangements have been in place for more than 20 years; they're outdated, ineffective and due for an overhaul."

Seven of the eight proposed constituencies would each be represented by a single councillor, while Whangarei would have two. Typically each councillor would represent between about 15,800 and 19,300 people.

Mr Brown said Northland had had a tough time economically in recent years, and the stark reality was that the region would not truly prosper unless its smaller communities prospered.

"We must start with the right democratic structure to kick start this change," he said, adding that Northland needed a forward-looking democratic structure that would support the council's drive for prosperity and equity while maintaining and protecting its unique and treasured environment.

"Northland will not reach its full potential if we are not fully engaged and working more closely with our communities," he said.

CEO Malcolm Nicolson said in drawing the proposed boundaries for the new constituencies, the council had looked at a range of factors in drawing the proposed boundaries, including where Northlanders felt a sense of identity, similarities in demographic, socio-economic and ethnic characteristics, river catchments, significant roads and topographical features, land use and shared facilities such as schools, marae, shops and recreational facilities.

Meanwhile, the review process would include a month for public consultation beginning on Saturday, September 1.

Council staff would be available to talk to interested community groups and anyone wishing to arrange such a meeting was welcome to call 0800 002-004.

As from September 1 members of the public would also be able to visit the council's website at the address www.nrc.govt.nz/representationreview to learn more about the initial proposal, while copies of the proposal would be available from all regional council offices in Whangarei, Dargaville, Opua and Kaitaia.

Submissions would close on October 1.

"After that there will be public hearings, before the council adopts a final proposal," Mr Brown said.

He added that the final proposal would then be sent to the Local Government Commission to be finalised in time for local authority elections in October next year.