Representation Review 2009
A representation review is conducted every six years to evaluate the electoral arrangements for the Far North District.
The Far North District Council has been considering ward, community board and riding (subdivision) boundaries, and the numbers of political representatives elected from each.
In June 2009, Council resolved a preliminary proposal for community consideration. Council then received and considered submissions to this proposal and on 11 September 2009, Council decided to confirm most of its proposal but suggested the creation of additional subdivisions in the Bay of Islands area.
Council made the change in light of the submitters' general suggestions that there are distinct communities of interest within the Bay of Islands subdivision that warrant secure representation. You can read about Council's decision here. The proposal was open to a further period of submissions until 16 October 2009.
Four submissions were received on the final proposal. As such, the matter has now been referred to the Local Government Commission for final determination. Under law, the Commission must issue its determination no later than 11 April 2010.
The Local Government Commission (Chair Sue Piper, and Commissioners Gwen Bull and Grant Kirby) heard appeals against the final representation proposal of the Far North District Council on Thursday 10 December 2009. The hearing was open to the public and the media.
The Commission's determination is expected by mid-March and will be posted to this website.
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.
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.
- In respect of the amended proposal, Council made the change in light of the submitters' general suggestions that there are distinct communities of interest within the Bay of Islands subdivision that warrant secure representation.
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: 16 February 2010 at 2:47 pm - Go to top
