Representation Review 2009
What do YOU want your council to look like in 2010?
That's a question that will be given a lot of thought over the next few months as the council works on its six-yearly representation review. This process will involve careful consideration of everything from electoral boundaries to the number of representatives on your Council and Community Boards.
September 2009 Update - Final Proposal Resolved
On 11 September 2009, Council decided to confirm most of its preliminary proposal but is suggesting the creation of additional subdivisions in the Bay of Islands area.
The original proposal would have seen the Eastern Community Board elected over three subdivisions – Whangaroa (1 seat), Kerikeri (3 seats) and Bay of Islands (3 seats).
Council is now proposing that there should be five subdivisions created by breaking down the Bay of Islands subdivision into new subdivisions servicing the Paihia area (1 seat), Russell/Opua area (1 seat) and Kawakawa/Moerewa area (1 seat).
Council resolved this change because:
- It is made in light of some submitters' general suggestions that there are distinct communities of interest within the Bay of Islands area that warrant secure representation, and
- Council must balance the views of submitters with the practicalities of their proposals, i.e. the requirements of the Local Electoral Act.
Access More Information
- Map of proposed new subdivisions in the Bay of Islands.
- District map of the proposed final arrangements.
- The Public Notice of the final proposal.
- The 11 September staff report
- The 27 August staff report for Council's deliberations on submissions
- Click here for submissions received on the preliminary proposal.
Appeals & Objections Period
Now that Council has resolved its final proposal, a period for appeals and objections has commenced.
Appeals may only be made by those who submitted on the preliminary proposal, and may only relate to matters raised in the appellant's submission.
Any person or organisation may lodge an objection to any element of the final proposal, regardless of whether they made a submission on the initial proposal.
There is no set format for appeals or objections, but they must be made in writing. Appeals and objections must be received by Council no later than Friday, 16 October 2009 at 5.00pm.
Submissions are to be forwarded to:
V Wright
Governance Services Manager
Far North District Council
Memorial Avenue
Private Bag 752
Kaikohe 0440
Fax: (09) 401-5363
ask.us@fndc.govt.nz
Next Steps
If there are no appeals or objections, public notice will be made that the final proposal has become the basis for the 2010 elections. If appeals or objections are received, the Local Government Commission will make the final determination.
Preliminary Proposal for Representation Arrangements
On 25 June 2009, the Far North District Council resolved to propose some amended representation arranagements for the Council and Community Board elections to be held on 9 October 2010.
Click here for the original public notice relating to this proposal.
Please note the public notice which appeared in District newspapers during the week 29 June-3 July contained an error. It mistakenly included the proposed Doubtless Bay subdivision in the table showing the proposed subdivisions for the Kaikohe\Hokianga Community Board. The Doubtless Bay subdivision was correctly shown in the table describing proposed subdivisions of the Te Hiku Community Board. A corrective Public Notice has been issued
Click here to view a map of the preliminary proposal.
Click here for the report Council considered prior to making its resolution on the preliminary proposal.
Why were these changes proposed?
- There has been community feedback following the 2004 determination of representation arrangements that the Broadwood area should be replaced in the Western Ward and (North) Hokianga subdivision, and the Ohaeawai area should be replaced in the Western Ward and Kaikohe subdivision;
- The Whatuwhiwhi area has grown considerably since the 2004 determination and forms a unique community of interest compared to its neighbouring subdivisions;
- The Whangaroa area forms a unique community of interest compared to its neighbouring subdivisions;
- The North Hokianga area forms a unique community of interest compared to its neighbouring subdivisions;
Other proposed boundary adjustments are required in order that the proposed representation arrangements comply with Section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001; - The renaming of the Northern, Eastern, and Western Community Boards to Te Hiku, Bay of Islands Whangaroa and Kaikohe Hokianga Community Boards respectively acknowledges the identity of these communities better than the current names.
Current electoral arrangements
1 Representation Arrangements
1.1 Mayor
The Mayor is elected across the District.
1.2 Wards
Currently the Far North District Council is divided into 3 wards and their location is shown on the following map.
|
Ward |
Population per member |
Number of Councillors |
|
Western Ward |
6594 |
Two Councillors |
|
Eastern Ward |
5864 |
Four Councillors |
|
Northern Ward |
5988 |
Three Councillors |
(Population figures as per 2001 census)
1.3 Community Boards
The Far North District Council has three community boards, each of which is subdivided into 'ridings' for electoral purposes, to ensure representation throughout the Board's area. The composition of each is as follows:
|
Community |
Subdivision |
Population |
Number of |
|
Northern |
Kaitaia |
3586 |
3 |
|
Doubtless Bay |
3672 |
1 |
|
|
North Cape |
3534 |
1 |
|
|
Western |
Hokianga |
2907 |
2 |
|
Kaikohe |
2458 |
3 |
|
|
Eastern |
Whangaroa-Kerikeri |
4044 |
3 |
|
Bay of Islands |
3774 |
3 |
1.4 Map: Far North District Ward and Community Board Areas
Page created/updated: 23 September 2009 at 4:16 pm
