Local authorities around the country are required to make decisions about their representation arrangements every six years, following a process contained in the Local Electoral Act 2001. One of the principles of the Act is to implement ‘fair and effective representation for individuals and communities’. The last time the Ōtorohanga District Council undertook a review was in 2018, but the Council decision in April 2021 to establish Māori Wards triggered a requirement to review arrangements again.
Councils must determine whether to have wards or not, whether to elect some councillors by wards and the rest at large; if there are to be wards the proposed number; the proposed name and boundary of each ward; and the number of councillors proposed to be elected by the electors of each ward. Councils must also make decisions about Community Boards.
On 17 August 2021 the Ōtorohanga District Council reviewed its representation arrangements and resolved that the following proposal apply for Council elections to be held on 8 October 2022:
It is proposed that the Council comprise 9 members elected from six wards, and the Mayor elected at-large. The six wards reflect the following identified communities of interest:
Ward |
Communities of Interest |
Kāwhia/Tihiroa Ward |
The communities of Kāwhia and Aotea together with, but not limited to, the rural areas of Oparau, Hauturu, Ngutunui, Tihiroa, Te Kawa and Honikiwi. |
Kio Kio/Korakonui Ward |
The area comprising, but not limited to, the rural areas of Kio Kio, Tokanui Crossroads, Korakonui and Ngahape. |
Ōtorohanga Ward |
The community of Ōtorohanga which covers the township of Ōtorohanga. |
Waipā Ward |
The area comprising, but not limited to, the rural areas of Rangiatea, Maihiihi, Paewhenua, Whawharua, Otewa and Rewa Rewa. |
Wharepuhunga Ward |
The area comprising, but not limited to, the rural areas of Waikeria, Wharepuhunga, Ngaroma, Arohena and Ranginui. |
Ōtorohanga Māori Ward |
A district wide ward that reflects the community of interest for Māori electors and those in the Māori community. |
The population that each member will represent is as follows:
Wards General |
Population*
|
Members |
Population per member |
% Deviation from the average |
Kāwhia/Tihiroa Ward |
2,590 |
2 |
1,295 |
6.50 |
Kio Kio/Korakonui Ward |
1,330 |
1 |
1,330 |
9.38 |
Ōtorohanga Ward |
2,270 |
2 |
1,135 |
-6.66 |
Waipā Ward |
1,150 |
1 |
1,150 |
-5.43 |
Wharepuhunga Ward |
1,170 |
1 |
1,170 |
-3.78 |
Total General |
8,510 |
7 |
average 1,216 |
|
Māori |
|
|
|
|
Ōtorohanga Māori Ward |
2,180 |
2 |
|
|
Total |
|
9 |
|
|
* Department of Statistics population estimates as at 30 June 2017.
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents must be within the range of 1,216 +/- 10% (1,094 to 1,338), unless particular communities of interest considerations justify otherwise. All five general wards are within the stipulated range.
As required by sections 19T(1)(b) and 19W(c) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the boundaries of the above wards and communities coincide with the current statistical meshblock areas determined by Statistics New Zealand and used for Parliamentary electoral purposes.
It is proposed that two community boards will be elected.
The two community boards will be:
Community Boards |
Area of Community |
Kāwhia |
The townships of Aotea and Kāwhia. |
Ōtorohanga |
The township of Ōtorohanga. |
The Kāwhia Community Board will have four elected members. The Kāwhia Community will have two subdivisions for electoral purposes. Kāwhia Subdivision will have 3 elected members and Aotea Subdivision will have 1 elected member. The Council will appoint 1 member of the Kāwhia/Tihiroa Ward to the Board.
Electoral Subdivisions
|
Population*
|
Members |
Population per member
|
% Deviation from the average |
Kāwhia Subdivision |
410 |
3 |
137 |
16.10 |
Aotea Subdivision |
60 |
1 |
60 |
-49.15 |
Total |
470 |
4 |
average 118 |
|
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents must be within the range of 118 +/- 10% (106 to 130), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise. Both the electoral subdivisions wards are outside the stipulated range. The Council believes that to provide effective representation of the Aotea community strict compliance with the rule is not appropriate because Aotea is effectively an island/isolated community physically separate from Kāwhia, the percentage variance is considered to be appropriate and the estimated usually resident population does not reflect the number of ratepayers in the area.
The Ōtorohanga Community Board will have 4 members elected at large. The Council will appoint 2 members of the Ōtorohanga Ward to the Board.
As required by sections 19T(1)(a) and 19W(b) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the six wards and two communities being created, and the number of members of each ward and community and subdivision, will provide effective representation of communities of interest within Ōtorohanga District because:
a. Kāwhia/Tihiroa Ward
b. Kio Kio/Korakonui Ward
c. Ōtorohanga Ward
d. Waipā Ward
e. Wharepuhunga Ward
In accordance with section 19K of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Council hereby records that the following changes have been made to the basis of election, membership and ward, constituency, community and subdivision boundaries within the Ōtorohanga District for the reasons set out:
Action |
Date |
Council resolution on initial proposal |
17 August |
Public notice of initial proposal |
24 August and 26 August (within 14 days of 17 August) |
Public submission period |
24 August to 24 September |
Submissions heard |
5th October |
Council resolution on final proposal [PDF 272 KB] |
19 October 2021 |
Public notice of final proposal [PDF 507 KB] |
Thursday 21 October |
Public appeals/objection period |
Close 30th November |
Forward material to LGC |
As soon as practicable, but not later than 15 January 2022 |
Determination by LGC |
Before 11 April 2022 |
Depending on the Alert Level, copies of the Council’s resolution and maps setting out the areas of the proposed wards and communities and any relevant information may be viewed and obtained from the Council Offices: 17 Maniapoto Street, Ōtorohanga 3900.
Any queries regarding the Council’s decision should be directed to Graham Bunn, Group Manager Corporate, phone 07 873 43 or email [email protected]