GISBORNE DISTRICT COUNCIL

RepresentationReview

Tell us what you think?Name: .................................................................................................

Address: ..............................................................................................

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Phone Number: .................................................................................

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I support the initial proposal for these reasons:

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I oppose the initial proposal for these reasons:

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.............................................................................................................Please attach any extra pages if required.

Do you wish to present your submission in person at a Council hearing on 4-5 July 2012? YES NO

If yes, we will contact you about the date and time for your presentation and answer any questions you may have.

Post your submission to: Gisborne District Council FREEPOST 747 PO Box 747 GISBORNE 4040

What happens nextThe Council has made a decision on its initial proposal outlining how the district should be represented as outlined in this brochure. The next steps are:

1. Formal submissions The public now has the opportunity to make formal

submissions on the initial proposal. Submissions close at 4pm on 15 June 2012.

2. Hearings Council will hold hearings on 4-5 July 2012 for those people

that would like to speak to their submission.

3. Final proposal FollowingthisCouncilwilldevelopafinalproposalbased

on submissions received and adopt this on 26 July 2012.

4. Formal appeals or objections The public can make formal appeals, objections and/or

presentpetitionsonthefinalproposal.ApersoncanonlyappealagainsttheCouncil’sfinaldecisioniftheymadea submission on the initial (draft) proposal. However, any personcanlodgeanobjectionagainstthefinaldecisionifthefinaldecisiondiffersfromtheinitial(draft)proposal,whether or not they submitted originally.

5. Local Government Commission If any formal appeals, objections and or petitions are

received for the final proposal, then a statutory bodycalled the Local Government Commission will determine how the district will be represented for the next two Council elections beginning in 2013.

How do you think Council should represent you?Gisborne District Council is reviewing its representation arrangements in advance of the next local body elections in 2013.

A Representation Review helps to determine how many elected members (Councillors) there should be and how they represent you. The Local Electoral Act 2001 requires all local bodies, like the Gisborne District Council, to review their representation arrangements at least once every six years.

This brochure tells you how to have your say on Council’s initial (or draft) proposal for its representation arrangements.

Further informationIf you would like to know more about the Gisborne District Council Representation Review visit our website www.gdc.govt.nz/representation-review, attend the public sessions for the Representation Review as listed below or approach your local Councillor.

Public meetings will be held at the following locations:

Ruatoria, Whakarua Park 9 May 2012 at 6pm

Te Karaka Scout Hall 17 May 2012 at 6pm

HB Williams Memorial Library 22 May 2012 at 6pm

We are here to help.Contact Customer Services

PHONE: 06 867 2049 EAST COAST RESIDENTS: 0800 653 800

15 Fitzherbert Street, GisborneEMAIL service@gdc.govt.nz

www.gdc.govt.nz

Or alternatively complete the submission on Council’s website www.gdc.govt.nz, or email us at service@gdc.govt.nz (please put “Representation Review” in the subject line).

Submissions open on 7 May 2012 and close at 4pm on 15 June. Hearings will be held on 4-5 July 2012.

Decision on the final representation arrangement will be adopted at Council on 26 July 2012.

• matters of importance to each community

• thematters relevant todefiningcommunitiesof interestset out in the Local Electoral Act

• agreements made when local government amalgamated in 1989.

Elected Members The Council is proposing to keep the same number of Councillors as we have now – fourteen Councillors (or elected members) to be elected from seven wards, and the Mayor (elected by the whole district). This decision relies on:

• agreements made when local government amalgamated in 1989;

• Council’s “unitary” status; • the challenges of effectively representing people and

communities of interest; and • having regard for the large area of the district, its

remoteness and sparse population and relative isolation.

Council’s initial (or draft) proposal for its representation arrangements Since August 2011, the Council’s Representation Review Committee have been meeting to consider a number of scenarios as to how the Council should represent you for the 2013 local body elections.

They have considered matters such as:

• how many Councillors should represent the district

• should Councillors be voted for by ward or by district-wide voting

• should the district have community boards

• should Māori wards be established

• which electoral system should be used (First-Past-the-Post or Single Transferable Vote).

The Council has now decided on an “initial” (or draft) proposal on what it considers should be its future representation arrangements.

This is now your opportunity to have your say and let us know what you think about what Council is proposing.

Council’s Initial ProposalThe Council is proposing to keep all of the current representation arrangements for the next local body elections in 2013.

Proposed Wards, Names and BoundariesWe currently have seven electoral wards in the district (six in the rural areas and one in the city). The Council proposes to retain the same ward names and boundaries:

• Gisborneward • Ūawaward• Taruheru-Pātūtahiward • Waiapuward• Cookward • Matakaoaward.• Waikohuward

The seven ward boundaries acknowledge seven ‘communities of interest’ within the district, taking into account:

Community BoardsThe Council proposes that representation continues without community boards.

Electoral SystemCouncil decided in 2011 to retain the First Past the Post electoral system to elect the Mayor and Councillors.

Māori Wards The Council decided in February 2012 that representation will continuewithoutMāoriwards.

Representation RequirementsSection 19V (2) of the Local Electoral Act requires that for each ward a Councillor must represent the same number of people, plus or minus 10%. In the Gisborne district this would mean that each Councillor would need to represent between 2993 and 3658 people.

Based on 30 June 2011 estimates, the following table describes Council’s initial proposal based on the number of people Councillors will represent. The Council acknowledges that as a consequence of achieving “effective” representation in theruralareas,fiveofthosewardswillbeoverrepresentedbecausetheyareisolated.ThereisunderrepresentationoftheelectoralpopulationintheGisborneandTaruheru-Pātūtahiwards.

The following table describes Council’s existing and proposed future ward structure based on the number of people.

Ward

Population in each ward

Total = 46,570

Councillors per WardTotal = 14

Population per Councillor

Average = 3,326

Departure from the average population

per Councillor- means over represented

% of departure from the average population per

Councillor- means over represented

Gisborne City ward 33,000 8 4,125 + 799.57 +24%

Taruheru-Pātūtahiward 3,800 1 3,800 + 473.57 +14.24%

Cook ward 1,780 1 1,780 –1,546.43 –46.49%

Waikohu ward 2,060 1 2,060 –1,266.43 –38.07%

Ūawaward 1,960 1 1,960 –1,366.43 –41.08%

Waiapu ward 2,160 1 2,160 –1,166.43 –35.07%

Matakaoa ward 1,810 1 1,810 –1,516.43 –45.59%