The number of Queenstown Lakes residents on the Maori electoral roll means the district does not qualify for the creation of a Maori ward.
At a meeting of the Queenstown Lakes District Council yesterday, councillors agreed not to recommend the establishment of a Maori ward in the district.
Mayor Jim Boult said the numbers "do not stack up at the moment".
A report for councillors by electoral officer Jane Robertson said a Local Government Commission formula for assessing whether Maori were proportionately represented showed the number of Maori on the district’s electoral roll remained too low. But a resolution to establish such a ward for the next election, and a poll on the issue, was needed if 5% of electors demanded one.
Mrs Robertson said the council’s position on the matter "could change with future population increases".
Councillors agreed to recommend keeping the first-past-the-post electoral system for electing the district council and Wanaka Community Board for the next two local body elections.
The council is required by law to carry out a representation review at least every six years, the next review being due for completion next year.
- Councillors formally approved a 1.35% overall average rates rise for the 2020-21 year, which is lower than signalled by the council in June.
The draft annual plan was revised to consider the impact of Covid-19 on the district’s economy, with the overall average rates increase sharply reduced from 6.76% to a forecast rise of 1.59%.
That was reduced further because the number of rateable properties in the 2020-21 year is estimated to rise 4.1% to 28,573 from 27,454 last year, a higher rise than anticipated.
