The Rotorua District Council has kept its four-ward voting system for next year's local body election - but only just.
After flirting with the idea of adopting a district-wide method of electing councillors, a seven-to-six vote yesterday retained the status quo. Abolishing wards would have allowed voters to choose any 12 candidates standing for council.
Instead, Rotorua ratepayers will continue having the choice of just three candidates from within each of the four wards - North, South, East and West - that divide the district.
Cr Charles Sturt said the present system should be retained as there had been no "outrage to get rid of it" from ratepayers.
However, Cr Glenys Searancke said she frequently heard from Rotorua people annoyed they could not vote for the candidate they wanted to, which a district-wide structure would allow for.
Although only 16 public submissions were made to the council on the issue, the council may have gone against the wishes of the majority of Rotorua residents.
In a survey made earlier this year, almost 70 per cent of Rotorua people wanted to see wards abolished. About 13 per cent voted for a mix of at-large and ward voting while just 14 per cent believed the council should retain the status quo.
Narrow wards defeat
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