Tuesday 25 September 2007
2007 Representation Commission
New Electorate Boundaries Finalised
New boundaries for the country’s 63 general and seven Māori electorates have been finalised – with a completely new
electorate named Botany created in Auckland.
The 2007 Representation Commission has completed its statutory role of reviewing and redrawing electorate boundaries to
be used in the next two general elections.
“We received 331 objections and 114 counter objections to the proposed electorate boundaries released in early May,”
says Judge Bernard Kendall, Chair of the Representation Commission. “This feedback and submissions made at hearings in
seven centres around the country have helped shape the final boundaries to be used in the general elections scheduled
for 2008 and 2011.”
- Seven electorates have had no change to their boundaries.
- Nine electorates have new names.
- Macrons have been applied to 11 electorate names to assist with correct Māori pronunciation.
No Boundary Changes in Seven Electorates
Five general electorates - Whangarei, North Shore, Northcote, Tauranga, Kaikōura and two Māori electorates - Te Tai
Tokerau and Waiariki retain the same boundaries used in the 2002 and 2005 general elections.
One Additional Electorate
An additional general electorate named Botany is being created in the south of Auckland. The Botany electorate comprises
much of the Botany Community Board areas including the proposed new town centre of Flat Bush. It replaces parts of the
former Clevedon and Manukau East electorates and includes the Cockle Bay area from the Pakuranga electorate.
New Names for Another Nine Electorates
The existing electorates of Clevedon, Port Waikato, Piako, Ohariu-Belmont, Banks Peninsula, Rakaia, Otago, Aoraki and
Tainui are being replaced with new electorates with new names.
1. Papakura – replaces parts of the Clevedon, Port Waikato and Manurewa electorates. The Papakura electorate is centred
on the Papakura urban area and includes Kingseat and Clarks Beach to the west. To the north it includes the suburbs of
Wattle Downs, Mahia Park, and the suburbs of Manurewa East and The Gardens to the east of the motorway.
2. Hunua – replaces parts of the Clevedon and the existing Port Waikato electorates including the towns of Clevedon,
Maraetai, Tuakau, Pukekohe, Waiuku and up to Manukau Heads.
3. Waikato – replaces parts of the Piako, Coromandel, Hamilton West and Taranaki King Country electorates. The Piako
electorate disappears.
4. Ōhariu - replaces Ohariu-Belmont with the Belmont area shifted into the Rimutaka electorate.
5. Selwyn – replaces parts of the Waimakariri, Banks Peninsula and Rakaia electorates.
6. Port Hills – is the new name for the revised Banks Peninsula electorate with most of the peninsula area itself
transferred to Selwyn.
7. Rangitata – replaces parts of the Aoraki and Rakaia electorates. It includes Timaru City, Temuka, Orari and Ashburton
up to the Rakaia River. Pleasant Point and its immediate surrounds are included in this electorate. The Rakaia
electorate disappears.
8. Waitaki - replaces parts of the Otago and Aoraki electorates. The Waitaki electorate includes all of the Waitaki,
Central Otago and Mackenzie Districts as well as the northern portion of Queenstown Lakes District around Wanaka and a
portion of the Timaru District (excluding Timaru City) around Paeroa and Geraldine. The Aoraki and Otago electorates
disappear.
9. Hauraki-Waikato – replaces the Tainui electorate and includes population from the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate from the
southern part of Manurewa. The people from Ngati Maniapoto (formerly in the Tainui electorate) will be in the Te Tai
Hauāuru electorate with the people of Ngati Raukawa.
“Following the objection and counter-objection process a number of proposed Auckland electorate boundaries have been
significantly redrawn. The new electorate created in Auckland is called Botany – not Howick as proposed,” says Judge
Kendall.
“There was objection to splitting the Timaru District Council between the two electorates of Waitaki and Rangitata. The
Timaru District was not able to be placed in one electorate, however the Pleasant Point area has been kept with Timaru
City in the Rangitata electorate to retain its principal community of interest.
“In the East Coast electorate, there was objection to including parts of the Gisborne District Council in the Napier
electorate. The Cook Ward of the council has been retained in the East Coast electorate,” says Judge Kendall.
“In the West Coast Tasman electorate there was objection to including Wakefield in this electorate. Wakefield could not
be included in the Nelson electorate, however Brightwater will remain in the Nelson electorate.
“The Commission was able to meet the majority of objections focused on the electorates around Christchurch, with the
result that the electorates there become primarily urban,” says Judge Kendall.
The Representation Commission is due to reconvene again in 2012 (after the next scheduled population Census and Māori
Electoral Option) to review and redraw electorate boundaries.
A summary of the changes, maps of the new boundaries and the Commission’s report can be viewed at www.elections.org.nz
ENDS