Representation arrangements final decision released

The shape of representation for this year's local elections have been announced today by the Local Government Commission.

All Councils are legally required to review their representation arrangements every six years to ensure that the arrangements provide fair and effective representation for communities.

After significant consultation with communities, the Christchurch City Council proposed its ward boundaries, community boards and councillor numbers to the Commission.

After hearing from the Council and appellants, the Commission has decided to uphold the Council's proposal, apart from three small boundary changes.

Key features of the Commission's final decision include:

· 16 Councillors, plus the Mayor, with one Councillor elected from each of the 16 wards (a change from the current 13 Councillors elected from six wards, each with two members, apart from Banks Peninsula, which current has a single member)

· Banks Peninsula Ward stays as it is

· Six urban community boards

· One Banks Peninsula Community Board

· Overall, the number of elected members stays the same as present, at 54.

The boundary changes in the final decision are:

· The inclusion of the whole of the Prestons subdivision in the Burwood Ward (instead of it being divided between the Burwood and Innes Wards)

· The transfer of a small area in Bexley from the Burwood Ward to the Coastal Ward

· The inclusion of the western part of the Heathcote Estuary in the Heathcote Ward (instead of including the whole estuary in the Coastal Ward).

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says the Commission has recognised the significant community engagement that the Council had undertaken.

"The Commission said that it was clear from the engagement process that people had a good understanding of what their community was, and that residents wanted to know the people that made decisions on their behalf."

"In keeping Banks Peninsula as a separate ward, the Commission has recognised the unique nature of the Banks Peninsula community, and that post earthquake the issues of isolation have, if anything, worsened. Retaining this ward acknowledges the strong communities of interest on the peninsula, and ensures fair and effective representation for this area.

"Over 3000 residents participated in the Council's process to find out what people thought about these issues. We want to acknowledge and thank all of those people for the time they spent in sharing their views, and we are pleased the Commission has listened to them."

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