General policy statement
This Bill specifies representation arrangements to apply to the next 2 triennial general elections of the Rotorua District Council, operating as Rotorua Lakes Council (the Council). The Bill provides for representation arrangements that would otherwise be prevented by the Local Electoral Act 2001. The Bill also provides for the representation arrangements to apply to subsequent triennial general elections, by Order in Council.
Background
On 21 May 2021, the Council resolved to establish a Māori ward and then commenced a Representation Review. Following the Representation Review, on 19 November 2021 the Council resolved that the ideal representation arrangement for Rotorua would comprise—
1 mayor elected at large:
1 Māori ward with 3 seats (Te Ipu Wai Taketake ward):
1 general ward with 3 seats (Te Ipu Auraki ward):
a Rotorua Lakes Community Board:
a Rotorua Rural Community Board.
However, as the ideal representation arrangement is not currently enabled under the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Council also adopted an interim representation arrangement to apply until such time as the ideal representation arrangement can be implemented by a local Bill.
Reasons for local Bill
The Council’s ideal representation arrangement is currently prevented by clause 2 of Schedule 1A of the Local Electoral Act 2001 as it does not satisfy the formula currently specified for calculating the number of Māori ward members of the Council.
Purpose of Bill
The purpose of this Bill is to provide for the Council’s ideal representation arrangement to apply for the 2 triennial general elections following the Bill coming into force. The Council considers that this representation arrangement provides for fair and effective representation.
The Bill also provides for this representation arrangement to be extended to subsequent triennial general elections by the Governor-General by Order in Council, following notification by the Council and consideration by the Minister of Local Government (the Minister).