/

Mayor welcomes Commission decision to move to City as a whole voting system

Dunedin (Friday, 8 April 2016) – The Local Government Commission has today announced its decision on the Dunedin City Council’s membership and ward arrangements for the 2016 local elections.

Mayor of Dunedin Dave Cull says he is pleased that the Commission has upheld Council's proposal for councillors to be elected from the City as a whole and to retain the number of Councillors at 14.

“This was the most commonly requested change by residents in the representation review process. It allows all Dunedin City residents, whether they be in Middlemarch, the central city, Brighton or Waikouaiti to vote for which ever councillors they choose and not be restricted by ward boundaries.

“Retaining the number of councillors at 14 also allows the opportunity for a good range of views from the community to be represented, which is good for democracy.

"The representation review has been a comprehensive and robust process and gives clarity around representation arrangements heading into an election."

The Council’s representation arrangements for the 2016 local elections are as follows:

• A Mayor and 14 councillors elected from the City as a whole
• Six community boards as follows:
Strath Taieri Community Board
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board
Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board
Saddle Hill Community Board
West Harbour Community Board
Otago Peninsula Community Board

• Each community board will have six members and one councillor appointed to the board by the Council

Further information on the determination is available on the Commission’s website: www.lgc.govt.nz

© Scoop Media