Ward name changes proposed

MANAWATU District Council is inviting residents to comment on proposed name changes for two wards in its representation arrangements for the 2013 local body elections.

The proposals involve the Kiwitea-Pohangina and Kairanga Wards, with the council’s representation review suggesting they be renamed the Northern Manawatu and Southern Manawatu Rural Wards respectively.

Details on the review are to be released for public consultation tomorrow (July 5) and submitters have until Monday, August 6, to respond.  

Governance and Administration Manager Janine Hawthorn said council was required to conduct a full review of its representation arrangements every six years. The last had been in 2006.

“As a result, the arrangements have remained the status quo for what they were in the 2007 and 2010 elections,” she said, “apart from the proposed name changes and the adjustments from the recent boundary change with Palmerston North.”

Mrs Hawthorn said the original names of the Kiwitea-Pohangina and Kairanga Wards reflected the former county councils that amalgamated with the Manawatu District in 1989.

“Council felt it was now appropriate to rename the two wards, particularly in light of the loss of a portion of the Kairanga community to the Palmerston North City Council due to the boundary change.

“It also believes the new names reflect the community of interest in each of these two areas as they are distinctive in their geographic characteristics, with the northern ward being predominantly hill country and the southern ward as flat, rolling and coastal.”

Mrs Hawthorn said the review was one of the more significant that council needed to undertake every six years and not something it took lightly.

The council’s resolution and maps of the proposed wards may be viewed and obtained from the MDC office, 135 Manchester Street, Feilding.

Any queries should be directed to Mrs Hawthorn on (06) 323-0000 and relevant information viewed on council’s website, www.mdc.govt.nz.