Environment Southland welcomes the determination from the Local Government Commission which outlines minor changes to how the council represents the Southland community.
The Local Government Commission’s determination makes changes to the boundaries for the Southern and Hokonui constituencies.
The new boundary for the Southern constituency will align with Southland District Council’s Waihōpai Toetoe Ward boundary.
In practical terms, this means 540 voters living in the rural Makarewa area will be able to vote at this year’s local government elections for candidates in the Hokonui constituency.
The Local Government Commission also confirmed council’s earlier decisions to retain the current number of councillors representing each constituency, and minor changes to constituency boundaries to align with Southland District Council wards. These changes would have impacts for some residents in the Western, Hokonui and Eastern-Dome constituencies.
This change follows Environment Southland’s representation review consultation which took place from July last year. This process culminated in two appeals to the Local Government Commission seeking further changes to Environment Southland’s final proposal. The Commission heard from Council and appellants at a hearing in February.
For more further detail go to www.es.govt.nz/repreview
