Representation review to determine council seats
The Local Government Commission will be in town this week to hear an objection to Taupō District Council’s proposed representation model.
The council is proposing to have one extra seat at the council table for the Taupō East Rural ward, which covers Oruanui north of Poihipi Road, Broadlands, Rangitaiki, Taharua, and Wairakei-Aratiatia which includes Ohaaki and Wairakei Village. There would be no changes to the two seats assigned to the Turangi/Tongariro ward and the one Mangakino/Pouakani seat.
The council reviews how its communities are represented every six years. The decision was made to make a change because of an imbalance between representation and populations within the wards. The change would mean the imbalance was not as great, but is still outside Local Government Commission regulations, with representation for Turangi/Tongariro greater than its population size would dictate.
Having two seats in the Turangi/Tongariro ward meant those two seats would represent 2,485 residents each. The Mangakino/Pouakani seat would represent 2,900 residents, Taupō East Rural seat 3,067 and each of the seven Taupō seats 3,708. One person has submitted an objection to the final proposal and they will be heard at the Local Government Commission hearing.
Head of democracy, governance and venues Tina Jakes said the proposal largely reflected submissions from the community.
“We saw a desire for Kinloch to be included in the Taupō town ward, and also for Turangi/Tongariro to retain its two seats along with its community board, even though it is over-represented by Local Government Commission standards,” she said.
Taupō District residents and ratepayers were given an opportunity to share their views both through the Long-term Plan process and then through a second period of consultation after releasing the initial proposal in June and July 2018. This has culminated in the final proposal that will be considered by the Local Government Commission.
Currently the council is led by a mayor who is elected at large from all voters across the Taupō District and 10 councillors elected in three different wards; one from Mangakino/Pouakani, two from Turangi/Tongariro and seven from Taupō/Kaingaroa.
The Local Government Commission will make its decision following the hearing at 9am on Thursday, February 21 at the Council Chamber, 107 Heuheu Street, Taupō.
February 18, 2019.