Representation Review

Representation Review

In 2005 and 2006 Hamilton City Council reviewed its representation arrangements for the 2007 local authority triennial elections. This is required under the Local Electoral Act 2001 to be undertaken at least once every six years.

The review included the following:

• the number of elected members (within the legal requirement to have a minimum of six and a maximum of 30 members, including the Mayor)
•  whether the elected members (other than the Mayor) shall be elected by the entire city (called ‘at large’ representation), or whether the city will be divided into wards for electoral purposes, or whether there will be a mix of at large and ward representation
• if election by wards is preferred, to determine the boundaries and names of those wards and the number of members that will represent each ward
• whether or not to have separate wards for electors on the Maori roll (electors can request Council to hold a poll on this issue)
• whether to have community boards and if so how many, their boundaries and membership, and whether to subdivide a community for electoral purposes.

As a result of the review, the 2007 local election was held on Saturday 13 October 2007 using the First-Past-the-Post system of voting. The number of councillors was reduced from 13 to 12 and the number of wards reduced from three to two. Six councillors now represent the West Ward and six councillors represent the East Ward, with the two wards divided by the Waikato River.  Hamilton City Council currently has no community boards.

Electoral Voting Systems

Deciding which electoral system to use

Under the Local Electoral Act 2001:

• Council can resolve to change the electoral system to be used at the next two elections without a poll, or
• Council can decide to conduct a binding poll of eligible electors on which electoral system to use, or
• Electors can demand that a binding poll be undertaken.
  

A poll can be demanded by at least 5% of eligible electors putting their name, address, and signature on a petition demanding that a poll be held. Once changed or decided by poll, an electoral system must be used for at least the next two triennial general elections, i.e., the electoral system cannot be changed for one election and then changed back for the next election. This means that the First Past the Post voting system that was used for the 2007 Hamilton City Council triennial elections will also be used for the 2010 election.

Changing the City’s Boundaries

The Local Government Act 2002 sets out procedures that must be followed during proposals to:

• make changes to the boundaries of the city
• create a unitary authority (e.g. transfer all of the functions of a Regional Council to a City/District Council, or vice-versa)
• transfer a particular function or functions to another council.

The procedures for resolving each type of proposal are slightly different. In general, they begin with a proposal either from the local authority or the Minister of Local Government, or by a petition of 10% of electors.

Proposals for a boundary alteration or transfer of functions from one local authority to another, will be considered by a joint committee of the local authorities involved, or by an agreed appointed local authority, or by the Local Government Commission (if the local authorities refer the proposal to the Commission or if they cannot agree on which of them should deal with the matter).

The Local Government Commission has produced guidelines on procedures for local government reorganisation, click here for more details.

Contact

Go to Governance Statement Contents page

Democratic Support Services
Level 9, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6766
Fax: 838 6599

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