Media Release 18 August 2003

Manukau City Council Review of Representation

Interested people have until 17 September to make submissions on the local government representation proposal approved by Council last month. The proposal impacts Council and Community Board representation.

Councils throughout New Zealand are required by Local Government legislation to review their representation arrangements every three years. This is required to ensure they are truly reflective of the people they serve.

In light of the rapid and continuing growth in the Botany, Flat Bush and Dannemora areas of Manukau the Council has developed a proposal that is now out for consultation.

The proposal centres on dividing the city into eight wards instead of the current seven, and to reduce the number of councillors from 20 to 19. These changes would be effective for the October 2004 local government elections. The proposal was considered at last month's full Council meeting, and is open for submissions until 4.30 pm on Wednesday 17 September.

A new Botany Flat Bush ward is proposed, as is the creation of a community board for that ward. Another proposed change is a reduction in the number of elected members on each community board to five, together with the councillors for each ward as appointed members.

The obvious changes to what is currently in place are that some boundaries will change slightly and some wards will lose a councillor and a community board member to make up the numbers in the proposed ward. The proposal falls inside a set formula set out in the Local Government Act that describes how such decisions are made.

Details about the proposal are set out in the public notice available via the Council's website www.manukau.govt.nz. Copies of Council's resolution and maps setting out areas of the proposed wards can be viewed at the Civic Centre reception, Kotuku House Customer Centre, at libraries, ward centres and the Howick Information Centre. Copies are also available by phoning the call centre on 262-5104.

Submissions need to be received by Council by 17 September and submitters will have the opportunity to make oral submissions at a Council hearing commencing at 10.00am on 30 September.

ENDS

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