A heritage/environment centre, a mountain bike park, a hot-pool style aquatic facility – or none of the above? That is the question the Picton community was asked to consider at a recent public meeting facilitated by Picton Smart+Connected at the .
According to the Local Electoral Act ward councillors are supposed to represent about the same number of people from each area. But figures from the last local body election showed each Marlborough Sounds ward councillor represented about 2200 voters – well below Wairau-Awatere ward councillors, with 2750 voters a head, and Blenheim ward councillors, with 2740. In the past, the council had argued the Marlborough Sounds ward was an isolated community which warranted a third councillor. But the Local Government Commission suggested the council ran this year’s review from scratch to ensure components had not changed.
CHLOE RANFORD/LDR
Marlborough District Council electoral officer Dean Heiford says the region s review of representation could lead to several outcomes.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia chair Waihaere Mason said the law change gave an opportunity to have an iwi voice at the table. “It will also help us to become collectively stronger in our partnership where we work together to make decisions for the good of all . This is a great change and [it s] long overdue.” Three of New Zealand’s 78 councils had Māori wards; Wairoa District Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Waikato Regional Council. Nine councils were attempting to run Māori wards in next year s elections, with this week s law change meaning the public could not overturn the council s decision. Previously, if more than 5 per cent of votes signed a petition then the decision went to the public, with the outcome being binding.