Electoral representation and boundary review in 2006

Auckland City Council is set to undertake its next electoral representation and boundary review in 2006 in time for the 2007 triennial elections.

The chairperson of the council’s Strategy and Governance Committee, Councillor Mark Donnelly, says the committee’s decision to hold the review in 2006 will provide stability for the elections in 18 months time and enable a comprehensive analysis of the electoral needs of the city.

The review must be undertaken every six years and the next review was required in either 2003 or 2006.

The review considers: whether councillors (other than the mayor) are elected by electors of the district as a whole (at large), by electors of two or more wards, or a mixture of both the proposed number of councillors to be elected names and boundaries for each ward whether Maori wards/councillors are introduced for the 2007 elections the role and nature of communities and community boards.

The last representation and boundary review was undertaken in 2000 and the same representation basis as the 1998 triennial election was adopted, except for the renaming of two wards.

“Population migration between the city’s electorate wards has not been significant since the last review and the council is not aware of any wish by the community to replace the current ward-based electoral system.

“We will undertake a comprehensive analysis of the city’s electoral options before the legislative deadline of 2006. In the interim the current representation and boundaries will be used for Auckland city’s 2004 election,” says Councillor Donnelly.

Councillor Donnelly says the committee’s decision is expected to be approved by the council when it next meets on 23 April 2003.

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