Submissions

On 13^th August 2024 the Timaru District Council considered the submissions received on its initial proposal regarding the representation arrangements for the Council and its constituent community boards to apply for the local elections to be held on 11^th October 2025, and any subsequent elections until altered by any subsequent decisions.

The Council received 48 submissions on its proposal. Three submissions were in favour of the Council’s proposal, and 45 were in opposition. The majority of submitters indicated that they preferred to retain the current representation arrangements.

Several submitters proposed alternatives, including:

• One submitter suggested the retention of the existing ward boundaries and an increase in the number of Councillors to 15.
• One submitter suggested the division of the District into two wards, electing nine members.
• One submitter suggested the division of the District into four wards, electing eight members.

Final proposal

Having considered all the submissions, the Council resolved a final proposal that differed from the initial proposal in the following aspect:

• The ward boundaries outlined in the initial proposal be amended so that the existing ward boundaries are retained. This means that Council’s final proposal is that the Kakahu, Orari and Rangitata Island areas remain within the Geraldine Ward and do not become part of the Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward.

The Council considers this change is appropriate for the following reasons:

• A clear majority of submitters supported retaining the current representation arrangements, and opposed the initial proposal.
• A clear majority of submitters articulated that the Kakahu, Orari and Rangitata Island shared a community of interest with the wider Geraldine Ward, and cited historical links, community organisations, transport, schooling, and emergency situations to evidence this.
• A clear majority of submitters stated their belief that the current representation arrangements provided them with effective representation, and that this would be undermined by the initial proposal.

The Council rejected the other matters raised by submitters because it was not satisfied that any of the other proposals would accurately reflect communities of interest within the district, nor provide for fair and effective representation of the same.

Therefore the final proposal is as follows:

Council Representation

It is proposed that the Council comprise nine (9) members elected from three (3) wards, and the mayor. The three (3) wards reflect the following identified communities of interest:

The population that each member will represent is as follows:

*as per the 2023 population estimates provided by Statistics New Zealand

In accordance with section 19V(2) Local Electoral Act 2001the population that each member represents must be within the range of 5,431 +/- 10% (4,888 to 5,974), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.

Only the representation of the Geraldine Ward falls outside the stipulated range. Council believes this is warranted because it considers that amending ward boundaries to achieve compliance would limit effective representation by dividing a community of interest between wards.

Community Board Representation

It is proposed that three (3) community boards be elected. The three (3) community boards reflect the following identified communities of interest:

The community boards will not be subdivided for electoral purposes. The membership of each community board will be:

Appeals and objections

Any person who made a submission on the Council’s initial proposal may lodge an appeal against the Council’s decision. An appeal must relate to the matters raised in that person's submission.

Any person who objects to the final proposal may lodge an objection to the Council’s

final proposal. Any objection must identify the matters to which the objection relates.

Appeals and objections must be made in writing and must be received by Council no later than 15^th September 2024.

Appeals and objections can be lodged via mail or email:

Mail

Freepost Authority Number 95136

Attention – Brendan Madley

Timaru District Council

Representation Review Appeals and Objections

PO Box 522

Timaru 7940

Email

brendan.madley@timdc.govt.nz

Procedure after Close of Appeals/ Objections

The Local Government Commission will make a final determination about the representation arrangements because not all wards are compliant with section 19V(2) Local Electoral Act 2001.

The Local Government Commission may hold a hearing, which may take place in the Timaru District.

Any appeals and objections will be forwarded to the Local Government Commission to be considered as part of their final determination.

Further information

Direct any queries regarding the Council’s decision to Brendan Madley (brendan.madley@timdc.govt.nz or 03 687 7200).

Nigel Trainor

Chief Executive, Timaru District Council

15^th August 2024

All previous information on the Representation Review is available on the Council’s website: www.timaru.govt.nz/representationreview