Representation arrangements for Waimakariri District Council

Date: 8 April 2016

Commission announces decision on

The Local Government Commission today announced its decision on the Waimakariri District Council’s membership and ward arrangements for the 2016 local elections.

The Council had proposed:

• A council made up of a Mayor and 10 councillors
• The 10 councillors to be elected from three wards
• Three community boards – Kaiapoi-Woodend, Oxford-Ohoka and Rangiora-Ashley

The Commission received one appeal and two objections to the Council’s proposal.  After hearing from the Council, the appellant and the objectors the Commission has decided to:

• uphold the Council’s proposal for wards and the number of councillors
• uphold the proposals for the Oxford-Ohoka and Rangiora-Ashley community boards
• provide for two community boards in the Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward – Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi and Woodend-Sefton – rather than the one proposed by the Council.

The Council’s representation arrangements for the 2016 local elections will therefore be:

• A Mayor and 10 councillors
• The 10 councillors elected from wards as follows:

• A Rangiora-Ashley  Community Board with 8 elected members and 4 appointed councillors
• An Oxford-Ohoka Community Board with 6 elected members and 2 appointed councillors
• A Kaiapoi-Tuahiwi Community Board with 5 elected members and 2 appointed councillors
• A Woodend-Sefton Community Board with 5 elected members and 2 appointed councillors

The determination is available on the Commission’s website: http://www.lgc.govt.nz/decisions-and-determinations/view/waimakariri-district-council-2016

Summary of the Representation Review process

Councils are required by law to undertake a representation review every six years. The following is a brief outline of the process:

• The Council makes its proposal
• The Council invites submissions on its proposal
• The Council considers submissions and makes a final proposal
• People can object to or appeal against the proposal to the Local Government Commission
• The Commission may hold an appeals hearing
• The Commission makes and releases its determination

Ends

Media contacts:

Donald Riezebos | Principal Advisor | Local Government Commission | DDI +64 4 460 2202|

MOB 027 243 5658 | donald.riezebos@lgc.govt.nz 

Simon Cunliffe | Communications Advisor| Local Government Commission | DDI +64 4 474 8164|

MOB 027 809 3833 | simon.cunliffe@dia.govt.nz