Election representation review launched (+ video)

The Rotorua Lakes Council has today launched a project to review election representation arrangements ahead of next year's local government elections, to be held in October.

The project 'Your Choice: 2016 Election Review' will include a comprehensive community engagement programme undertaken by a working party of three community representatives and three district councillors. The working party is chaired by councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait.

New Zealand councils are required to carry out reviews of their representation and voting arrangements every six years.

The council has already considered two of those election arrangements late last year, and resolved to retain the existing First Past the Post (FFP) voting system and to not introduce Maori wards.

After considering community feedback, the Your Choice Working Party will be making recommendations to the council on the remaining election-related arrangements, including:

• How many councillors should be elected (currently 12);
• Whether councillors should continue to be elected 'at large' (ie a single district-wide ward), by wards, or by a mixed system of wards and 'at large';
• If wards were to be re-introduced, how many wards and their boundaries;
• Whether there should be community boards (currently one community board); and
• If community boards were to continue, how many community boards and what their communities of interests would be.

Mrs Raukawa-Tait said before any recommendations were put to the council to decide on, the working party would be seeking as many views as possible from Rotorua people, between now and mid-July.

"We're aiming to have our recommendations formulated in late July ready for the council to consider on August 26.

"In the meantime we'll be engaging with residents through a variety of methods, including a letter box pamphlet drop to all households this week, attending community meetings and events, pop-up stalls and displays, social media, marae visits and providing information through community newsletters and organisations.

"There's also a short feedback survey that can be completed online at www.rotorualakescouncil.nz or in hard copy form.

"We're really keen to attract the widest possible range of views from across all sectors of our community. So we're urging everyone in Rotorua to have a say about how they're represented on the council for the next two elections - and what our representation structures should be," Mrs Raukawa-Tait said.

When submissions have been considered and hearings undertaken, a proposal for election arrangements for 2016 and 2019 will be adopted by the council in November. That proposal would be subject to appeals to the Local Government Commission with a final determination being made by April 10 next year.

Your Choice Working Party members are councillors Merepeka Raukawa-Tait, Charles Sturt and Tania Tapsell, and community representatives Aroha Bray, Brian Eagle and Jill Nicholas.

Information and feedback survey forms are available from the council website, www.rotorualakescouncil.nz, and from the council's Customer Centre.
- For the full story, read tomorrow's Rotorua Daily Post.