Notice of Representation Arrangements Review Initial Proposal
Under section 19I of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Southland Regional Council (known as Environment Southland) is required to carry out a review of its representation arrangements for at least the 2025 triennial elections.
On 17 July 2024, Council resolved that the following proposal apply for the elections to be held on 11 October 2025:
It is proposed that Environment Southland comprises 12 councillors elected from six constituencies, these being:
- Fiordland Constituency (represented by one councillor), comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 11503 deposited with Land Information New Zealand, the boundaries of which are shown on Attachment 1;
- Eastern-Dome Constituency (represented by two councillors), comprising the area delineated on Plan LG-15-2019-Con-2 deposited with the Local Government Commission with the exclusion of one meshblock to be moved into the Hokonui Constituency (3051900), the boundaries of which are shown on Attachment 1;
- Western Constituency (represented by one councillor), comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 386355 deposited with Land Information New Zealand, with the exclusion of nine meshblocks to be moved into the Hokonui Constituency (3077600, 3077702, 3179400, 3179300, 3183400, 3074500, 3183100, 3183200 and 3183500), and the inclusion of three meshblocks to be moved from the Hokonui Constituency (3078900, 3079300 and 3166704), the boundaries of which are shown on Attachment 1;
- Hokonui Constituency (represented by one councillor), comprising the area delineated on Plan LG-15-2019Con-3 deposited with the Local Government Commission, with the exclusion of three meshblocks to be moved into the Western Constituency (3078900, 3079300 and 3166704), the inclusion of nine meshblocks to be moved from the Western Constituency (3077600, 3077702, 3179400, 3179300, 3183400, 3074500, 3183100, 3183200 and 3183500), and the inclusion of one meshblock to be moved from the Eastern Dome Constituency (3051900), the boundaries of which are shown on Attachment 1.
- Southern Constituency (represented by one councillor), comprising the area delineated on Plan LG-15-2019Con-4 deposited with the Local Government Commission, the boundaries of which are shown on Attachment 1.
- Invercargill-Rakiura Constituency (represented by six councillors), comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 301281 deposited with Land Information New Zealand, the boundaries of which are shown on Attachment 1.
The six constituencies, the number of councillors per constituency, the constituency populations (estimated as at 30 June 2023) and the population ratio per councillor are as follows:
Constituency | Population | Councillors | Average | % Difference |
Eastern-Dome Constituency | 17,330 | 2 | 8,665 | -0.02% |
Fiordland Constituency | 4,690 | 1 | 4,690 | -45.88% |
Hokonui Constituency | 8,660 | 1 | 8,660 | -0.08% |
Invercargill-Rakiura Constituency | 58,310 | 6 | 9,718 | 12.13% |
Southern Constituency | 7,140 | 1 | 7,140 | -17.62% |
Western Constituency | 7,870 | 1 | 7,870 | -9.19% |
Total | 104,000 | 12 | 8,667 |
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each constituency councillor represents must be within the population range of 8,667 plus or minus 10% (7,800 – 9,533) unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.
The initial proposal does not comply with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and, if resolved as the final proposal, must be referred to the Local Government Commission for determination. Council has investigated adjusting constituency boundaries to achieve compliance, however consider that doing so would divide existing communities of interest.
The reason for the boundary changes to the Eastern-Dome, Hokonui and Western Constituencies (as shown in Attachment 1) is to reflect boundary changes being proposed by Southland District Council
Further information
Copies of the Representation Review 2024 - Initial Proposal for Environment Southland are available from the Council office at 220 North Road, Waikiwi, Invercargill. Relevant information is also available on Council’s website: www.es.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/representation-review-2024
Submissions
The initial proposal has been submitted for formal consultation, including inviting written submissions from any interested person or organisation. Submissions should be addressed to: Environment Southland, Freepost 247418, Private Bag 90116, Invercargill 9840.
Submissions can also be emailed to: service@es.govt.nz
Submissions should state your name, address, telephone number and email address (if you have one) and should reach the Council no later than 5.00pm on Monday 19 August 2024.
Council will read and consider all submissions. Please clearly state if you wish to speak in support of your submission and note that any submission made will be available to the public. Hearings and meetings on the review will be open to the public.
Wilma Falconer
Chief Executive
19 July 2024
Proposed constituency changes
