Auckland ward decisions unfair say Greens

The design of the ward system in the new Auckland super council means many areas will not be fairly represented, Green MP David Clendon says.

The Local Government Commission yesterday released its final decisions on the boundaries and representation arrangements for the new Auckland Council.

Changes included splitting the Orakei-Maungakiekie Ward into two wards which increases the number of wards to 13 from the initial proposal in November of 12. There will also be two more local boards.

Mr Clendon said Rodney had 54,100 people per councillor, while Waitakere had 79,350.

The choice of 20 councillors decided from 13 wards was entirely arbitrary and unfair, he said.

The commission decided that seven wards would elect councillors with one coming from the remaining six.

Commission chairwoman Sue Piper said the body had received more than 700 submissions on the proposed boundaries and representation.

There was a mixed reaction to the commission's decisions on the size and shape of the wards to elect councillors to the Auckland council and the design of local boards

North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams welcomed changes in his area which included the proposed Hibiscus-Albany-East Coast Bays Local Board being split into Hibiscus and Bays Local Board and Upper Harbour Local Board.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown also welcomed changes in south Auckland, but said there was still considerable uncertainty about how local communities would engage with the new structure.

Local Government Minister Rodney Hide said he was pleased the commission had increased the number of local boards from 19 to 21.

Rodney Mayor Penny Webster said her district council would fight to stay out of the Auckland super city council.

The council had been asked to support a local bill putting the northern part of Rodney into Kaipara.

However, Mrs Webster says it had been decided the best option is to propose its own local bill asking that all of Rodney be left out of Auckland.