Representation review recommendation

The Queenstown Lakes District Council will this week consider a recommendation that could change local government voting in the Arrowtown Ward, QLDC regulatory and corporate general manager Roger Taylor said.

The Council is required under the Local Electoral Act 2001 to carry out a representation review each six years. A proposal was notified in April and hearings held earlier this month. Under the review, proposed change to the Arrowtown Ward attracted the most submissions.

“The proposal, that Arrowtown be included within a broader Wakatipu Ward, generated a number of submissions from Arrowtown residents expressing a potential loss of separate identity and calling to retain the status quo,” Mr Taylor said.

A smaller number of submitters from Arrowtown supported Council’s proposal on the basis that it could result in better representation for Arrowtown.

“They made a strong case that the current arrangements limit Arrowtown to one Councillor and that being part of a broader Wakatipu Ward would create opportunities for more Councillors from Arrowtown and give the Arrowtown residents the opportunity to vote for a larger number of candidates,” Mr Taylor said.

The independent community Working Party, chaired by lawyer Michael Parker, deliberated on the submissions putting forward the recommendation to be considered on Friday.

“Although submissions were weighted in favour of the status quo, the Working Party was swayed by arguments that the Arrowtown community would be better represented through being a part of the broader Wakatipu Ward,” Mr Taylor said.

The recommendation as per the agenda includes that:

a.       All Councillors continue to be elected within wards;

b.       There are two wards, a Wakatipu Ward and a Wanaka Ward;

c.       The Wakatipu Ward elect 6 members;

d.       The Wanaka Ward elect 3 members;

e.       There continues to be a Wanaka Community Board.

Once the Council adopted a recommendation, then it would be publicly notified next week.

“Should there be any appeals, these will be considered by the Local Government Commission, which will then deliberate and make the final decision,” Mr Taylor said.