Appeals closed 5 pm on Tuesday, 10 November 2015.
Background
Submissions
On 30 September 2015, the Whakatāne District Council considered the submissions received on its initial proposal regarding the representation arrangements for the Council and its community boards, to apply for the local elections to be held on 8 October 2016. Of the 36 submissions received, 7 were either in support of the proposal or neutral, and 29 were against the proposal. The main focus from 28 submitters who were against the proposal was the amalgamation of the Ōhope Beach and Whakatāne Community Boards, in line with the current Whakatāne-Ōhope Ward boundaries.
Submission points against the proposal include:
- Denying Ōhope residents of an independent advocacy and purpose creating a void in democracy and representation
- Different physical and topographical features
- Ōhope economy survives on the holiday visitor market, there is no CBD and few businesses provide rates to the Council
- There are a large number of absentee home owners that holiday in Ōhope
- Ōhope has the only decile 9 school, with no intermediate or high school
- The amalgamation would result in a gradual erosion of democracy
- Ōhope has always fought for its own representation
Submission points for the proposal include:
- Having the ward and community board boundaries matching was logical and the population ratios were within the requirements of the Act
- The majority of the working population in Ōhope commute to Whakatāne to work and shop
- Ōhope would continue to receive promotional attention as it was a top tourism draw for nationally-based tourism to the district
- The two communities share enough in common to operate as one administrative entity
One submitter asked that the proposed Ōhope Beach-Whakatāne board have two Councillors appointed – where possible one from Ōhope and one from Whakatāne. One submitter suggested that the number of Councillors be reduced to one per ward. Having considered all of the submissions, the Council resolved to adopt its initial proposal as the Council’s final proposal, as follows.
Final Proposal
The document below, which is an extract from minutes of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 30 September 2015, provides additional details on the Council's decision regarding the final proposal.
Final Proposal Resolution - (PDF, 113 KB)
Council representation
It is proposed that the status quo remains with the Council comprising the Mayor and 10 Councillors elected from four wards, being:
Ward | Communities of Interest |
|---|---|
Galatea-Murupara Ward | Includes the communities of Waiohau, Galatea, Murupara, Te Whāiti, Minginui and Ruatāhuna |
Rangitāiki Ward | Includes the communities of Taiwhakaea, Paroa, Poroporo, Awakeri, Te Mahoe, Te Teko, Otakiri, Edgecumbe, Thornton, Matatā , Awakaponga and Otaramarakau |
Tāneatua-Waimana Ward | Includes the communities of Tāneatua, Rūātoki, Waimana, Matahī, Nukuhou and Wainui |
Whakatāne-Ōhope Ward | Includes the communities of Ōhope Beach, Whakatāne, Coastlands, The Hub and Gateway Drive |
The population that each Councillor will represent is as follows:
Ward | Number of Councillors | Population | Population ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
Galatea-Murupara | 1 | 3,170 | 3,170 |
Rangitāiki | 3 | 9,690 | 3,230 |
Tāneatua-Waimana | 1 | 3,570 | 3,570 |
Whakatāne-Ōhope | 5 | 17,850 | 3,570 |
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each Councillor represents must be within the population range of 3,428 plus or minus 10% (3,085-3,770).
Community Board Representation
It is proposed that the number of community boards be reduced from five to four, with the combination of the Whakatāne and Ōhope Beach Community Boards in line with the current ward structure as follows:
Community Board | Communities of interest |
|---|---|
Murupara Community Board | All of the Galatea-Murupara Ward |
Rangitāiki Community Board | All of the Rangitāiki Ward |
Tāneatua Community Board | All of the Tāneatua-Waimana Ward |
Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board | All of the Whakatāne-Ōhope Ward |
Each Board will elect six members plus one Councillor appointed from the respective ward. The Rangitāiki, Tāneatua and Whakatāne-Ōhope community boards will not be subdivided for electoral purposes. The Murupara Community Board will be subdivided for electoral purposes as follows:
Subdivision | Number of members | Population | Population ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
Galatea-Waiohau | 2 | 960 | 480 |
Murupara | 3 | 1740 | 580 |
Te Urewera | 1 | 470 | 470 |
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each Member represents must be within the population range of 528 plus or minus 10% (475-580).
Note: 528 residents per member gives a +/-10% range between 475 to 581. The Te Urewera Subdivision does not marginally comply with the +/- 10% criteria. Council believes the Te Urewera Subdivision of the Murupara Community Board should be exempt of this criteria under section 19V (3)(ii) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 as compliance would divide the Te Urewera community.
Appeals
Any person who made a submission on the Council’s initial proposal was able to lodge an appeal against the Council’s decision. An appeal was required to relate to the matters raised in that person’s submission.
Appeals were only accepted from persons who submitted to the initial proposal.
Appeals closed 5 pm on Tuesday, 10 November 2015.
Copies of the Council resolution and maps setting out the area of the proposed wards, communities and subdivisions may be viewed and obtained from the Whakatāne District Council, 14 Commerce Street, Whakatāne, or viewed on the Council’s website here.