Representation proposal for 2019

2018-06-02T00:00:00 Pacific/Auckland

The Southland Regional Council's Initial Proposal regarding representation arrangements for the 2019 Local Elections is available for public consultation.

On 23 May 2018 Environment Southland, as the regional council, considered its representation arrangements and resolved that the proposal outlined below would apply for the elections to be held on 12 October 2019.

Council Representation - Initial Proposal

It is proposed to retain the existing representation arrangements, comprising 12 Council members and six constituencies, with the names and boundaries of these constituencies to remain the same. The Councillors under this proposal will be elected as follows:

• one Councillor elected by the electors of the Fiordland constituency;
• two Councillors elected by the electors of the Eastern-Dome constituency;
• six Councillors elected by the electors of the Invercargill-Rakiura constituency;
• one Councillor elected by the electors of the Hokonui constituency;
• one Councillor elected by the electors of the Western constituency;
• one Councillor elected by the electors of the Southern constituency.

The Council considers that this structure, which was established by the Local Government Commission in 2007 and reconfirmed in 2013, reflects recognised communities of interest and provides effective and fair representation.

In accordance with Section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each member represents must be within the range of 8,193 10% (7,374 to 9,012), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise. The population that each member will represent is as follows:

Under this proposal, the 10% rule will not be met in three constituencies - Fiordland, Invercargill-Rakiura and Southern. This was also the case in 2007 and 2013 and was accepted by the Local Government Commission as being necessary in order to provide effective representation of the communities of interest of the Southland region.

Further Information

Copies of the Council's resolution and map showing the constituencies can be obtained from Environment Southland's offices or viewed on its website:

http://www.es.govt.nz/community/have-your-say/consultations/representation-review/

Following receipt of submissions to the Council's initial representation arrangement proposal, the following process for further public participation will be adopted:

• Environment Southland will hold a public hearing to allow people who lodged a submission to the initial proposal to speak in support of their submissions.
• Environment Southland will then consider all submissions and may decide to amend its proposal.
• Environment Southland's final proposal will be publicly notified.
• If an original submitter is still not satisfied with the Council's decision, they may then lodge a written appeal. Any person or organisation may lodge a written objection to a proposal that has been amended.
• The Local Government Commission will then consider any appeals or objections and make its determination on Environment Southland's representation arrangements.Any queries regarding the proposed representation arrangements or requests for information should be directed to Ken Swinney, Strategy and Corporate Planning Manager, telephone: (03) 211 5115 or toll free (within Southland) 0800 76 88 45.

Submissions are Invited

People with an interest in the proposed representation arrangements are invited to make written submissions on the Council's initial representation proposal.

Submissions may be:

(a) delivered to Environment Southland's offices on the corner of North Road and Price Street, Waikiwi, Invercargill;(b) posted to Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840;

(c) emailed to consultation@es.govt.nz

(d) completed online at es.govt.nz

Submissions must be received by Environment Southland no later than 4.30 pm, Friday, 6 July 2018.