14 June 2006
Regional view in Greater Wellington representation review
The proposal to combine four constituencies of Greater Wellington Regional Council into two larger ones will help
provide a regional perspective.
Representation Review Subcommittee chair Margaret Shields says the committee considered many options before coming up
with the current proposal, now out for public comment.
The proposal would see Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt constituencies combine and Kapiti and Porirua combine (with one extra
councillor). There would be a total of 14 councillors (currently 13).
“Larger constituencies align with councillors’ focus on the regional perspective and will help people move away from the
idea that local regional councillors are the spokespeople for the territorial authority area with which their
constituency is aligned. They will also mean more councillors that electors can vote for.
“Joining Kapiti and Porirua together, and Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt together does not destroy those communities of
interest. Each area has a lot in common, especially in a regional council context, such as major roads, public
transport, flood protection and natural features such as the coastline,” Cr Shields says.
Under the proposed structure, there would be four constituencies, based on communities of interest: Wairarapa,
Kapiti-Mana, Wellington and Hutt Valley. There would be two councillors for the Wairarapa constituency (a departure from
the strict population per councillor ratio) because it covers a large land area, has a sparse population with a
diversity of views and a high number of meetings because of the river and catchment schemes.
Greater Wellington is now inviting submissions on our proposed representation arrangements. We particularly welcome your
feedback on the constituency names, boundaries and the number of members to be elected in each constituency.
More information is available at: www.gw.govt.nz. You can send your written submission to: Proposed representation
arrangements, freepost 3156, Greater Wellington Regional Council, PO Box 11646, Wellington, or fax 04 385 6960.
Alternatively, you can email your submission to amy.norrish@gw.govt.nz.
Submissions close on 4 August 2006.
ENDS