Community views sought on council representation

Hastings District Council is currently reviewing its councillor representation ahead of the 2013 local government elections.

The council is looking for your views on the future shape of representation. The review is required to be undertaken at least once every six years and was last reviewed for the 2007 elections.

The review will determine whether the current ward system for electing councillors should be retained and how many councillors are needed to represent the community. Currently the district is split into six wards represented by 14 councillors while the Mayor is voted for by electors from throughout the district. If wards are to be retained, the council will also decide on how many there should be, their boundaries and names in order to provide fair and effective representation.

As part of the representation review, council will also decide whether or not to have any community boards. At present there is only one, the Hastings District Rural Community Board, which has one elected member from each of four Hastings District rural areas. The councillors representing the Mohaka and Kahuranaki wards are also on the board.

A Representation Review Subcommittee has been established to come up with options which will be put forward for public discussion. The subcommittee is to report back to council before August 31st 2012.

The members of the subcommittee are:

• Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers (Chair)
• Councillor Wayne Bradshaw
• Councillor Rod Heaps
• Peter Kay (Chair of the Rural Community Board)
• Councillor Mick Lester
• Councillor Jacoby Poulain
• Barney Tihema (Chair of the HDC Maori Joint Committee)

 

Further information on the review of council representation is available at www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/review-representation-2013-elections while your comments are welcome at www.myvoicemychoice.co.nz  Copies of the information along with a submission form is available from Hastings District Libraries and the Hastings District Council reception desk. You can also request a copy by phoning (06) 8715069 or 8715018.

For comment on the Hastings District Council representation review please contact  Deputy Mayor Cynthia Bowers.