Council to consider draft local bill for representation arrangements
14 December 2021
Council to consider draft local bill for representation arrangements
Work is progressing on a draft Local Bill for Parliament’s consideration, seeking legislative change to enable a preferred representation model to be adopted in Rotorua.
Last month, as part of the Your Choice – 2022 Representation Review, Rotorua Lakes Council voted to seek legislative change to enable a preferred representation model to be adopted at the earliest possible time (learn more about this decision HERE).
Council’s preferred model for best representing the needs of Rotorua in accordance with the principles of the Local Government Act and the Treaty of Waitangi, is not permitted under current legislation.
At this Thursday’s full Council meeting, elected members will consider a report on the progress that has been made to seek statutory reform to implement the preferred model.
A draft local bill is proposed, seeking an exemption from current legislative requirements that prevent Council adopting the preferred model and the Chief Executive has engaged Council’s lawyers to prepare this draft local bill.
See the full draft bill on page 35 of the meeting agenda HERE.
The key features of the draft bill include:
- The Act will apply for two general elections following the Act coming into force. It is intended to come into force by May 2021 so that it can apply to the 2022 election. However, if the Act does not come into force before 1 June 2022, it will not come into force until after the 2022 election and will apply to the following two elections. This is because the election process commences well in advance of election day. The Council team will be working hard to ensure a swift processing of the bill by Central Government.
- The Act confirms the decisions that have been made by Council as part of its preferred electoral model. This includes:
- A Maori ward, called Te Ipu Wai Taketake ward, will elect three members;
- A General ward, called Te Ipu Wai Auraki ward, will elect three members;
- Four members will be elected by the electors of the district as a whole (“At large”);
- The Rotorua Lakes Community Board will be formed by four members elected by the Rotorua Lakes Community, and one member appointed by Council;
- The Rotorua Rural Community Board will be formed by four members elected by the Rotorua Rural Community, and one member appointed by Council.
- If the Act comes into force before 1 June 2022, the determination made by Council on 19 November 2021 to adopt the interim electoral model (1-1-8) will be withdrawn and effectively replaced by the 3-3-4 model enabled under the bill.
- Any person who wishes to object to the bill will have a full opportunity to present a submission to a select committee after the first reading of the bill in the House.
- If the bill is passed, following two general elections, the Act may be extended by the Governor General. This will only occur if Council has resolved to continue with the electoral model contained in the Act, and has given public notice of its intention to do so.
- The Act does not affect any co-governance arrangements between Council and iwi, including Te Tatau o Te Arawa Charitable Trust.
The report going to Thursday’s meeting recommends that Council delegates authority to the Chief Executive to pursue with this draft local bill.
Read the full report on page 31 of the Council agenda HERE.
In the Red Traffic Light setting, members of the public aged over 12 years and three months attending public meetings must provide a current hard copy or electronic vaccine pass to enter the Civic Centre.
Thursday’s meeting of the full Council starts at 9.30am and will be livestreamed.
You can access livestreaming via THIS LINK on Council’s website or by going directly to Council’s YouTube channel HEREand the full recording will be available on Council's YouTube channel following the meeting.