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Council decided at its meeting on 7 February 2006 to initiate a binding referendum to determine whether the First Past the Post (FPP) or Single Transferable Voting (STV) electoral system should be used for the 2007 and 2010 Triennial Council elections. At an extraordinary meeting on 20 February 2006, Council also voted in favour of a binding referendum to determine whether or not fluoride should continue to be added to Hamilton's water supply.
The referendum was conducted on 13 May 2006 and voting came out in favour of continuing with both the FPP electoral system and with fluoridation of the city's water. The FPP electoral system will now be used for the 2007 and 2010 Triennial Council elections. The referendum for the two issues was held by postal vote and had a voter turn out of 38 per cent. Of the people that voted, 70 per cent decided in favour of fluoride and 60 per cent for the FPP electoral system.
Council will also be moving to a two-ward electoral system with fewer councillors at the next local body election in 2007. Council voted in favour of moving from three wards to two wards at a meeting last year, but an appeal to the Local Government Commission had prevented the Council decision being confirmed. The appeal by the Temple View Residents Association was subsequently withdrawn, which allowed Council to implement its decision.
The two-ward system will mean the number of councillors for the next election in 2007 reducing from 13 to 12, with six councillors representing each ward. The two wards will be east and west of the Waikato River, mirroring the boundaries inside the city of the parliamentary seats.
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