Last chance on voting system

A final decision on what could be sweeping changes to the Dunedin City Council's voting system is close, after a hearing yesterday that was the final play for opponents of the preferred system.

The change would mean most Dunedin voters would no longer be restricted to voting for three or four councillors in their ward and having no say on the rest.

Commissioners heard people objecting to city-wide issues like the Forsyth Barr Stadium and recent parking changes wanted the opportunity to make decisions on who represented the entire city.

Earlier this year, the council voted for a preferred system of 11 councillors representing the urban area, and three representing two rural seats, Mosgiel-Taieri and Waikouaiti-Chalmers.

A majority of submitters yesterday backed an expansion of that idea, calling for a one-ward system that would allow all voters to vote for - or against - all candidates, giving voters a far greater say on which councillors represent the city.

But that was not the only argument, with one submitter extolling the virtue of the current ward system.

The number of Dunedin city councillors, the future of the ward system and the need for community boards has been under review, as required by legislation.

The council appointed a review team comprising chairman Judge John Macdonald, Hilary Allison, Colin Scurr, Prof Geoff Kearsley and Mayor Peter Chin, late last year to consider the matter.

The three-ward system they suggested was supported by the council in June but, after 12 appeals, the Local Government Commission was required to make a final decision.

At the hearing to listen to those appeals, before commissioners Sue Piper, Gwen Bull and Grant Kirby, Mr Chin said the council's decision was a compromise between supporters of wards and an at-large system.

The at-large system was considered "a step too far" at this stage, but could be considered in future.

The two rural wards allowed the voice of outlying areas to be heard at the council table.

The city wards were solely for election purposes, and once elected, councillors made decisions for the whole city.

The boundaries of those wards were "largely seen as artificial".

Asked why an at-large system might be better in future, Mr Chin said parochial views in the past, when Mosgiel and St Kilda, for instance, had their own borough councils, had changed since amalgamation.

The "maturing process" that changed those views was continuing.

Appellant Doug Jackson said he believed electors should be able to vote for the whole council because decisions were made city-wide.

With big issues like the Forsyth Barr Stadium and parking, all voters should have the right to vote for the best candidates no matter where they lived.

Ian Church, who lives in the Chalmers ward, said Port Chalmers would be included in the Waikouaiti-Chalmers ward.

But it was not rural, but a working container port, and would become a "B class" ward if residents could only vote for two candidates.

Waikouaiti Coast community board deputy chairwoman Geraldine Tait, speaking as an individual, said she was concerned about social justice and equity issues.

A large ward would reduce the numbers who voted, and increase disillusionment among voters.

With a large number of candidates, wealthy and well-known candidates would take the seats, reducing diversityThe number of women and ethnic representatives were also likely to be reduced.

Wards allowed less wealthy councillors to, for instance, stand outside supermarkets and attend local meetings to speak to smaller electorates, something that would be more difficult for a larger ward.

A decision has to be made by April 10, although is expected early in the new year.

 

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