Consultation Document

Statement of Proposal Representation Review ~ 2018 How should you be represented by your local Council? Buller District Council has proposed creating a new ward for the 2019 Local Government Elections ~ You have the opportunity to submit on this proposal..... .....it may affect you! www.bullerdc.govt.nz/representation-review/ Representation Review ~ August 2018 Introduction The Local Electrocal Act requires all local authorities to review their representation arrangements at least once every six years. This process is called the Representation Review. The representation arrangements decided on during this process will be used for the 2019 local government elections. The rules for local government representation are set in the Local Electoral Act 2001 and the Local Government Act 2002, and require all councils to review their representation model at least six yearly. One of the criteria is to have an equal distribution of population across the councillors. This is to ensure that the public has the same opportunity for representation and also to distribute the workload fairly between councillors. One of the reasons to review each six years is that over time, communities change. Sometimes in size, but also in terms of their makeup - rural, urban, industries, small or big town. The review considers wards, the numbers of councillors required, and community boards. The review does not formally include the council’s own committees. The Buller district is considering introducing an additional ward south of the Buller River – the “Paparoa Ward”. This new ward would exclude Carters Beach and areas nearby Carters Beach which would still remain in the Westport ward. Westport ward would lose one councillor and the new ward would be represented by one elected member. The new Paparoa Ward would fit within the legislative criteria and it may better represent the communities in the proposed ward. Council is seeking feedback from on this proposal from the community. Proposed Model The proposed model is to increase the current number of wards from 3 to 4 with the addition of a new ward south of the Buller River which would be called the Paparoa Ward. The wards for Seddon and Inangahua would remain unchanged, however the Westport Ward representation would be reduced by one Councillor to a total of five and one Councillor would represent the newly proposed Paparoa Ward. The new Paparoa Ward would encompass all of the area of the district representation review is that representation of Councillors to the south of the Buller River to the boundary south of Punakaiki but population within the ward must be within plus or minus 10% to excludes the township of Carters Beach and the immediate surrounds comply with legislation. Creation of the new ward is likely to be of Carters Beach. within the thresholds. Carters Beach and surrounds would remain with the Westport Ward If Carters Beach was included in the Paparoa Ward then it, and the due to the close association the Carters Beach community has with Westport ward, would not meet the 10% threshold and it is unlikely Westport town, and because if the Carters Beach area was included in that the Local Government Commission would then accept the the Paparoa Ward the ratio of population to Councillor representation proposal would not meet the rules and legislation. Under the current arrangements and in the proposal Seddon Ward is The proposed new ward can be seen in the maps included in this outside the 10% threshold. This is because the Seddon ward which Consultation Document. includes Karamea is considered a ‘community of interest’ taking into account the needs of isolated communities. Table 1 sets out the estimated representation that would result from the proposal. The key parameter that must be met by a Representation Review ~ August 2018 Details of the proposed ward: The proposal has the Paparoa Ward taking in the areas: South of the Buller River but excluding the area bordered by the Buller River from the Buller Bridge; State Highway 67A through to Martins Bridge, then following Bradshaws Creek through to Bradshaws Road; and North through to the Tasman Sea (being basically all of the area west and south of the Buller River except the township of Carters Beach and its environs). Positives and PROS: May increase representation for the area south of Westport such as Charleston and negatives of Punakaiki. Creating the new ward fits within representation criteria. the proposal Creating the ward recognises the Punakaiki area, Charleston and southern area has a strong sense of identity and has issues distinct from the district as a whole. Council considers that the creation Those included in the Paparoa Ward would only vote for one candidate, however, of a new Paparoa Ward may provide all Councillors elected represent the District and its constituents as a whole. better representation for constituents further down the coast and in areas such as Punakaiki. However constituents in the northern part of the ward who reside close to CONS: Westport could no longer vote for up to six representatives instead having There is a cost to the ratepayer of performing a review that is different to the status quo. a single dedicated representative. Therefore it is important Council People living close to Westport but south of the town would only get to vote for one representative instead of six as they do under current arrangements. receives submissions on the proposal, to ensure there is fair and effective Creating a new southern ward may not necessarily mean that low population settlements such as Punakaiki would have an elected member from their representation for individuals and community because the greater population in the ward is closest to Westport. communities. Representation Review Timeline: 18 July 2018 ..................... Council agreed to consult the public. 31 July 2018 ............................. Consultation document for interim proposal is available - submissions open 31 August 2018 ...................... Last day to receive submissions to the interim proposal - submissions close. 19 September 2018 .............. Hearing will take place - verbal submissions will be heard, written submissions will be considered 26 September 2018 .............. Council will decide their final proposal 19 October 2018 .................... Final proposal to be advertised by this date 20 November 2018 ............... Last day to receive appeals or objections to the final proposal 15 January 2019 ..................... Last day to send appeals and objections to the Local Government Commission for them to make a decision. 11 April 2019 .................... Local Government Commission will make their final decision by this date. Westport Representation Review ~ August 2018 Proposed L A N D G R Structure D R D L IE F K H C R IR B D T R HEAPHY N TRK Y W O T W I H L IS H L N A P IA N R M E E D A A S T R E E D A H D M R R A D T Y N I A R P V W H W E O E E L D A L R D R I R D A D A N E F R O D V T R D Y IS R N STON RD A N DENNI OT C D E R O R D D AT N R E OW N S D W ST IR F O FA A D P IR IR E O D D G O A E A D W F P V R W E A R N N CK E IN I RD V W R AD O R R H PIA E D D A C R H M S TO Y I D U A O U R S F MA LI R U O M B S EST D D O R E E N D A LIG E I HTHO RD P A R D USE TO R RD R 7 R CA D H 6 U T P LEY S N D E FO EL S EET O W U STR O C G N D LW C AM D IN GH F R A D N U D R R A RO A S I D I B IR A W R Y P D F R N O A E W T S N D N K U H K R C F D R A R D E M M O O B D R U W W N A L E Y A W R D R D R A EN T C D PH A D I TE E B M N S L E R D C D O A W P N A R M I G A L O K M A D E N W C N A O R R D T R G D I K A L D S H D ORD K A D F N D S F E R O E STA S S R R R N U N D N R N A S Y R R E D A T X N L D E E L C O A R L L D D E U L O R S B C D I O L W D R W A B D I R A R E L I U R T D S H O S I L E T O D I R R K P N L W A A R D S S P O R D I V A E L M R R E A I H K U C A D S S O D T T R L R O R C D O D R E R O E I W A O W L Westport I L N K L R IN S U D A E O B M R N IL R I S E R O R L WAIMEA RD D D E A S RD D E A D GAPEK L N R WA R D L R I ' Paparoa E S Ward L R L D D U R B E L I M L OOPLINE RD E N I Ward 6 N W H A S IT E W N R PEAK RD IL D BUCKLANDS IN S E O M N IL S E 6 L L OW R E H ER D A S BU D LL Seddon E R R G D OR GE 6 R D LO H WE S R B ULL ER GOR GE R VI D RGE RD RG LLER GO Ward U IN OWER B F L L 6 AT H RD S P IPE RS W FL O AT R LOW RD ER BULLER G N ORGE RD R E F L D E OW Paparoa L ER R G 6 B N UL A V H A LE T IR S R G M GO IN 6 RG F H R E L S R A Westport D T U R D B 6 SH 6 SH Ward O K A R 6 I H R S D 6 H S 9 SH 6 6 H S S H S H 6 Paparoa 6 6 9 H S Ward Buller District 6 H 9 6 S Mayor H S S 6 H H 6 S 9 S 5 H 6 Seddon Ward 7 H Inangahua S 2 Councillors S H 7 S W WardH A 7 IU T 5 A S 6 Inangahua Ward R H 7 S D H H 7 S 2 Councillors D R S S H R 7 E 7 D T SH R N U S H S D A Westport Ward R P R E S I LM 5 Councillors PA W E L Paparoa Ward 1 Councillor Inangahua Community Board 4 Members RepresentationRepresentation Review Review ~ August ~ August 2018 2018 Current Structure K R T HEAPHY T RK Y H P A E H D O R PIT ARA RD WANGAPEKA Seddon Ward D R A M R U B O K A R 6 I H R S D 6 H S 9 SH 6 6 H S S H S H 6 Westport 6 6 9 H Buller District S Ward 6 H 9 6 S Mayor H S S 6 H H 6 S 9 S 5 H 6 Seddon Ward 7 H 2 Councillors Inangahua S S H 7 S W WardH A 7 IU T 5 A Inangahua Ward S 6 R H 7 S D H H 2 Councillors 7 S D R S S H R 7 E 7 D T SH R N U S H S Westport Ward D A R P R E S I 6 Councillors LM PA W E L Inangahua Community Board 4 Members Representation Review ~ August 2018 Our current representation model Council has 10 members elected into wards, excluding the Mayor who is elected at large.

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