10 March 2016

Commission to assess Waiheke application

The Local Government Commission has agreed to assess an application from “Our Waiheke’’ for a unitary council for Waiheke.

Local Government Commission Chair Sir Wira Gardiner said the Commission will next determine what the area affected by the application is – Waiheke or the whole of Auckland – and then make an assessment as to whether there is community support for local government reorganisation in the affected area.

“If the Commission is not satisfied about community support, it may at this point decline the application,’’ said Sir Wira. “If it is satisfied there is support, it will call for alternative applications before deciding on a preferred local government option.

“If the preferred option is not the status quo, the Commission will then begin developing a draft reorganisation proposal before consulting further with the community and gauging public support for it.’’

The decision to assess the application follows receipt of the Our Waiheke application in December 2015.

Background

In summary, the process for local government reorganisations under the Local Government Act 2002 is:

Individuals, organisations or the Minister of Local Government can apply to the Commission for reorganisation of local government
The Commission decides what the affected area is – in this case either Waiheke or the whole of Auckland, depending on whether the Commission considers the operation, scope or capability of the Auckland Council to be materially affected
The Commission assesses whether there is evidence of community support for local government reorganisation in the affected area
If accepted, there is public notification of the application, including a call for alternative applications
The Commission identifies options for change, chooses a preferred option and, if this is not the status quo, develops a draft proposal
A draft proposal is subject to consultation including submissions and a series of hearings
If the Commission decides to proceed, it issues a final proposal. Otherwise it can choose to end the process, or identify a new draft proposal for consultation
If requested by the community a poll on the final proposal is held
If no poll is requested or the poll shows support for the proposal the reorganisation scheme is implemented

ends

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