Thursday 14 June 2007

2007 Representation Commission

331 Objections To Proposed Electorate Boundaries

The Representation Commission has received 331 objections to proposed new electorate boundaries for the next two general elections.

The objections, including petitions, are from over 1,300 people.

"Objections include suggestions for electorate name changes and putting some communities in different electorates to reflect communities of interest or local authority boundaries," says Judge Bernard Kendall, Chair of the 2007 Representation Commission.

"A summary of the objections is now available for people to make counter-objections to," says Judge Kendall.

People have until 28 June to make counter-objections.

The objections summary can be viewed at www.elections.org.nz, council offices and district service centres, libraries, Registrar of Electors offices, Te Puni Kokiri offices, Maori Land Court offices and LINZ offices.

The electorates that received over 10 objections were: - Pakuranga - 58 objections - Hunua - 17 objections - Manurewa - 14 objections including two petitions containing in total over 500 signatures - Piako - 13 objections - Wairarapa - 11 objections - Napier - 39 objections - Waitaki - 22 objections - Selwyn - 16 objections - West Coast Tasman - 14 objections including 1 petition with over 500 signatures - Christchurch Central - 13 objections - Clutha Southland - 11 objections

The 331 objections compares with 199 objections received when the boundaries were last redrawn in 2002.

The Representation Commission plans to hold public hearings between 16 and 27 July, with final boundaries released on 26 September 2007. Hearing details will be confirmed shortly.

An overview of the objections is attached and is also available online at www.elections.org.nz along with the full summary of objections.

Ends

For further information please contact: Robert Peden, Chief Electoral Officer, Phone 04 495 0030 or Anna Hughes Communications Advisor ph 027 28 28 827 or visit www.elections.org.nz. Overview of 2007 Representation Commission proposed electoral boundary Objections

331 objections have been received to the proposed electorate boundaries. Over 1300 people have contributed through submissions and petitions.

The objections mainly focus on the inclusion of a particular community or geographic location in an electorate and electorate names.

In the North Island, the proposed new Pakuranga electorate has attracted 58 objections - the most objections for a single electorate. The most common issues raised relate to the inclusion of Glenn Innes and Panmure in the electorate, the disruption of an established community of interest with Howick and support for maintaining the Tamaki estuary as a natural boundary.

In the proposed Hunua electorate, objections propose that the Beachlands/Maraetai and Whitford areas be included in the Howick electorate and Hingaia (west of the motorway) and the Clevedon Ward of Manukau City be included in the Papakura electorate. The 17 objections include suggestions that the electorate name change to 'Franklin'.

Fourteen objections were made about the proposed Manurewa electorate, including two petitions - one of over 400 and one of over 100 signatures. A number of objections support parts of the proposed Manurewa electorate being placed in other electorates and ensuring communities of interest are kept together in electorates. Some submissions propose including Mission Heights and Flat Bush and surrounds in the Howick electorate. Others propose including Weymouth and surrounds in the Manurewa electorate rather than the Papakura electorate and including Manara Place in the Papakura or Hunua electorate.

The proposed Piako electorate received 13 objections. These included recommending a name change to 'Waikato' and objection to the inclusion of parts of Paparimu in the electorate.

The eleven objections to the proposed Wairarapa electorate were concerned with the inclusion of Waipukurau and parts of the Central Hawke's Bay in the electorate, and the name of the electorate.

The proposed enlarged Napier electorate attracted 39 objections. Common issues relate to including communities and locations in the north of the proposed electorate, with the suggestion that they should be in the East Coast electorate. Objections have been made to including north of the Wharerata Ranges, the Cook Ward of the Gisborne District Council, the Poverty Bay Flats, Patutahi and the Tiniroto District in the Napier electorate.

In the South Island, the 22 objections on the proposed new Waitaki electorate mainly focus on excluding Timaru from the electorate and including Geraldine, Central Otago and South Canterbury in it.

In the proposed Selwyn electorate, 16 objections were made about including suburbs such as Westmorland, Bishopdale and part of Papanui in the electorate.

Concern about the inclusion of Wakefield in the West Coast Tasman electorate dominates objections about that proposed boundary. Fourteen objections have been made about including Wakefield in the electorate, including a petition of over 500 signatures. Most observe that Wakefield's community of interest is with Nelson.

The proposed Christchurch Central electorate attracted 13 objections, mainly concerning the inclusion of parts of Papanui in the electorate.

Eleven objections were made about the proposed Clutha-Southland electorate. These included objections to the name and to including Mataura and Roxburgh in the electorate.

Electorates with 10 or fewer objections (number of objections in brackets)

Waitakere (2) - The inclusion of Muriwai and parts of Sunnyvale. Tamaki (3) - Objections to the omission of a macron in the name Tàmaki and to the boundary with Maungakiekie.

Howick (2) - Supporting the proposed boundary and objecting to the inclusion of Mellons Bay and the MacLeans College catchment area.

Manukau East (6) - Objections to the electorate name and the splitting of the Botany Ward of the Manukau City Council across four electorates. Two submissions support the proposed boundaries.

Mangere (6) - Objections have been made to the proposed boundary between the Mangere and Manukau East electorates. Submissions propose that the area to the east of Mangere Road be included in the Manukau East electorate and the boundary with the Manukau East electorate run along Portage Road. Another supports the use of a macron in the name Màngere.

Papakura (4) - Includes objections to the name and to the inclusion of Weymouth and surrounds.

Hamilton West (2) - Objections to the inclusion of the rural area to the west of Hamilton City, including Whatawhata and Te Kowhai.

Bay of Plenty (2) - Includes objections to the electorate name and to the splitting of the Tauranga-Bay of Plenty communities of interest.

Rotorua (6) - Includes objections to the inclusion of the Kaimai, Matahina-Minginui, Murupara and Oropi areas.

Taupo (3) - Includes objections to the electorate name and including Cambridge in the electorate.

Taranaki-King Country (7) - Includes objections to parts of the Waikato, such as Raglan, as well as the Ruaphehu District being in the electorate and to the electorate name.

Whanganui (2) - Includes objections to the name of the electorate and to the inclusion of South Taranaki.

East Coast (7) - Includes objections to parts of the western Bay of Plenty being in the electorate and the electorate name.

Tukituki (2) - Support for the proposed boundary, despite the splitting of the Central Hawke's Bay District, and a suggestion for a name change.

Mana (3) - Includes objections to the boundary in Tawa-Linden running down the centreline of residential streets.

Rimutaka (4) - Includes objections to the name and to the inclusion of Belmont.

Ohariu (4) - Objections to the inclusion of the Western Hutt Hills in the electorate and a suggested name change.

Kaikoura (2) - Noting population growth in the Marlborough region and requesting a macron be used in the name.

Waimakariri (2) - Includes objections to the inclusion of Rangiora and surrounds and to the area on the north side of Winters Road.

Christchurch East (2) - Suggesting a name change.

Dunedin North (2) - Support for the boundary and an objection to the proposed boundary between the Dunedin North and Waitaki electorates.

Invercargill (8) - Includes objections to the name and to including the Catlins community in the electorate.

Pare Hauraki - Pare Waikato (6) - Includes objections to the proposed name and boundary and also submissions supporting these.

Te Tai Hauauru (2) - Includes objections to the omission of a macron in the name and to the inclusion of Ngati Maniapoto, away from the rest of the Tainui confederation.

The following electorates received one objection each. More information on each is available in the Summary of Objections. General Electorates: Northland, Te Atatu, New Lynn, Mt Roskill, Maungakiekie, Coromandel, Rangitikei, Palmerston North, Otaki, Nelson, Banks Peninsula

Maori Electorates: Tamaki-Makaurau, Ikaroa-Rawhiti, Te Tai Tonga.

A summary of the objections is available online at www.elections.org.nz.

ENDS

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