TCDC-Representation-FinalProposal-PublicNotice-130924.pdf(PDF, 205KB)
On 15 August 2024, Thames-Coromandel District Council considered the submissions received on its initial proposal regarding the representation arrangements for at least the 2025 triennial local authority elections.
The Council received 81 submissions on its proposal. Of those, 41 submissions were deemed outside of the scope of the representation review (related to the establishment of Māori wards).
Of the remaining 40 submissions –
- 22 submissions (or 55%) were in support of the initial proposal;
- 18 submissions (or 45%) were opposed to the initial proposal.
Those who opposed the initial proposal identified the following issues:
Final Proposal
Having considered all of the submissions, Council resolved on 3 September 2024 to amend its initial proposal (by renaming the Māori ward) to the following final proposal for at least the 2025 triennial local authority elections:
Council Representation
(a) It is proposed that the Thames-Coromandel District Council comprises the mayor elected ‘at large’ and ten councillors elected from five wards, these being:
(i) Coromandel-Colville General Ward (represented by one councillor), comprising the northern and north-western portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately Kennedy Bay in the east to Waikawau in the west (being the current ward area);
(ii) Mercury Bay General Ward (represented by three councillors), comprising the mid-eastern portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately Whangapoua in the north to Hot Water Beach in the south (being the current ward area);
(iii) South East General Ward (represented by two councillors), comprising the lower eastern portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately south of Hot Water Beach to Whangamatā (being the current ward area), excluding the area of Neavesville and its surrounds (being meshblocks 1057802, 1059402 and 1060409);
(iv) Thames General Ward (represented by three councillors), comprising the south-western portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately Te Mata in the north to Hikutaia in the south (being the current ward area) and including the area of Neavesville and its surrounds (being meshblocks 1057802, 1059402 and 1060409);
(v) Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward (represented by one councillor), comprising the entire Thames- Coromandel District Council area.
(b) The number of Māori ward councillors complies with Schedule 1A of the Local Electoral Act 2001;
Community Board Representation
(c) It is proposed that Thames-Coromandel District Council be divided into five communities, these being:
(i) Coromandel-Colville Community Board (represented by four elected members and one appointed member of the Council representing either the Coromandel-Colville General Ward or the Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward), comprising the northern and north-western portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately Kennedy Bay in the east to Waikawau in the west (being the current community board area);
(ii) Mercury Bay Community Board (represented by four elected members and three appointed members of the Council representing either the Mercury Bay General Ward or the Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward), comprising the mid-eastern portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately Whangapoua in the north to Hot Water Beach in the south (being the current community board area);
(iii) Tairua-Pāuanui Community Board (represented by four elected members and two appointed members of the Council representing either the South East General Ward or the Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward), comprising the townships of Tairua, Pāuanui and Hikuai (being the current community board area), and excluding the area of Neavesville and its surrounds (being meshblocks 1057802, 1059402 and 1060409);
(iv) Whangamatā Community Board (represented by four elected members and two appointed members of the Council representing either the South East General Ward or the Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward), comprising the townships of Ohui, Opoutere, Wharekawa, Onemana and Whangamatā (being the current community board area);
(v) Thames Community Board (represented by four elected members and three appointed members of the Council representing either the Thames General Ward or the Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward), comprising the south-western portion of the Coromandel Peninsula from approximately Te Mata in the north to Hikutaia in the south (being the current community board area) and including the area of Neavesville and its surrounds (being meshblocks 1057802, 1059402 and 1060409).
(d) In accordance with section 19K(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, Council considers the proposed name change of the Thames-Coromandel Māori Ward to the Te Tara o Te Ika Māori Ward to be appropriate, with feedback from local iwi supporting the name change.
(e) The five wards, the number of councillors per ward, the ward populations (estimated as at 30 June 2023) and the population ratio per councillor are as follows:
|
Ward
|
Population
|
Councillors
|
Average
|
% Variation
|
|
Coromandel-Colville General
|
2,840
|
1
|
2,840
|
-15.75%
|
|
Mercury Bay General
|
10,050
|
3
|
3,350
|
-0.62%
|
|
South East General
|
7,460
|
2
|
3,730
|
11.39%
|
|
Thames General
|
9,980
|
3
|
3,326
|
-1.72%
|
|
Te Tara o Te Ika Māori
|
3,310
|
1
|
3,310
|
N/A
|
In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each general ward councillor represents must be within the population range of 3,371 plus or minus 10% (3,034 – 3,708) unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.
The final proposal does not comply with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 for the following general wards:
- Coromandel-Colville General Ward (-15.75%) is considered an isolated community due to its geography (sea and mountain range).
- South East General Ward (+11.39%) – to comply with fair representation would combine communities of interest (Hot Water Beach area) divided by a forest.
Accordingly, the final proposal will be referred to the Local Government Commission for determination.
APPEALS AND OBJECTIONS
Any person who has made a submission on Council’s initial proposal may lodge an appeal against the Council’s decision. An appeal must relate to the matters raised in that person’s submission.
Any person may lodge an objection against the Council’s decision. An objection must specify the matters to which the objection relates.
Appeal and objection forms are available from the following Council offices:
- Council’s Main Office, 515 Mackay Street, Thames
- Coromandel Service Centre, 355 Kapanga Road, Coromandel
- Mercury Bay Service Centre, 10 Monk Street, Whitianga
- Whangamatā Service Centre, 620 Port Road, Whangamatā
Copies of these are also available on request from Thames-Coromandel District Council, Private Bag 1011, Thames 3540. You can also download appeal and objection forms on Council’s website: www.tcdc.govt.nz
Appeals or objections should be addressed to: Governance Services, Thames-Coromandel District Council, 515 Mackay Street, Thames or Private Bag 9001, Thames 3540.
Appeals or objections can also be emailed to: governance.services@tcdc.govt.nz
Appeals or objections should state your name, address, telephone number and email address (if you have one) and should reach the Council no later than 4.00pm on Friday 25 October 2024.
Aileen Lawrie, Chief Executive Thames-Coromandel District Council Phone: 07 868 0200