'Your Choice - 2022 Representation Review'
18 June 2021
Māu e whiriwhiri – Te Arotake Whakaahuahanga 2022
‘Your Choice – 2022 Representation Review’
Rotorua residents will soon have the opportunity to provide feedback on representation arrangements in Rotorua.
Council has now launched the 'Your Choice - 2022 Representation Review' project to review representation arrangements ahead of next year’s local government elections.
To help develop a draft proposal on representation arrangements that will go out for public consultation during September and October this year, Council will be asking residents for feedback on some of the following topics:
- How many elected members should the district have?
- Should elected members be elected from across the whole district or split into wards? (Note: on 21 May 2021 Rotorua Lakes Council resolved to establish Māori Wards.)
- If wards are introduced, what should the boundaries be?
- If we have wards, how many elected members should we have per ward?
- Should Community Boards be introduced/retained?
Current elected members will be participating in three workshops to help develop the draft proposal as well. Following public consultation, and after considering feedback from submissions and hearings, Council will make a final decision on its representation arrangements for the 2022 election and adopt a final proposal in November.
Once final, the updated representation arrangements will stay in effect for six years (two election cycles) or until the next review.
In order to ensure councils continue to provide fair and effective representation for individuals and communities, they’re required by law (the Local Electoral Act 2001), to review their elected representation arrangements at least every six years. The last representation review in Rotorua was undertaken in 2015.
More information on the 'Your Choice - 2022 Representation Review' is available on Council’s consultation platform Let’s Talk – Kōrero MaiHERE.