Opportunities for public to have a say on council representation arrangements

Rotorua residents will have a number of opportunities over the next few weeks to give their views on future arrangements for electing councillors and community boards, ahead of next year’s local government elections

Starting tomorrow (Thursday 1 June), and over the next three weeks, members of Rotorua Lakes Council’s Your Choice working party will be at the inner cityThursday Night Market and Saturday Market in Kuirau Park to talk to locals.

The working party comprises Councillors Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (chair), Charles Sturt and Tania Tapsell, and community representatives Aroha Bray, Brian Eagle and Jill Nicholas.

At the two markets, residents will be able to find out more about the Your Choice – 2016 Election Review programme, and fill in a short survey form to help the working party to formulate recommendations to Rotorua Lakes Council.

The Your Choice programme aims to get as many views as possible from the Rotorua community on a number of critical questions. These include how many councillors there should be in the future (currently 12, plus mayor); whether they should be elected by wards or ‘at-large’ as at present (or a combination of both); and whether there should be community boards and if so, how many (currently one)?

Residents can find out more about the pre-election review of representation arrangements from the council website - rotorualakescouncil.nz - and can also complete the Your Choice survey online.

ENDS

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