Worry over ward size

BY MICHELLE COOKE & SCOTT MORGAN

Community leaders fear east and bays residents won’t be fairly represented under the new Auckland supercity council.

The Local Government Commission has recommended a total of 12 wards and 19 local boards to make up the new structure of the Auckland Council.

Across the Auckland isthmus there would be four wards.

These are the Whau and Maungawhau-Hauraki Gulf Islands wards, which have one councillor each, and Mt Albert-Mt Roskill and Orakei-Maungakiekie wards with two councillors each.

Tamaki Community Board chairwoman Kate Sutton says the structure of the Orakei-Maungakiekie ward is a "serious issue" that "needs to be changed".

The ward would be the second largest under the new council and would represent the views of more than 160,000 people.

Ms Sutton feels the communities of Panmure, Mt Wellington and Glen Innes are very different to those of St Heliers, Mission Bay and Remuera, which are grouped together in the Orakei-Maungakiekie ward.

She says it will be too difficult for two councillors to represent a large number of people and a distinct range of views.

Eastern Bays Community Board chairman Colin Davis agrees.

"Somehow those two have to reflect the range of views of that new electorate – and they range from strong National views to strong Labour views.

"It’s certainly a big area for two people. If one person is sick or overseas then that’s one person dealing with the whole area."

Both Ms Sutton and Mr Davis were surprised that only 19 boards were proposed when the government recommended between 20 and 30.

City Vision-Labour leader Richard Northey says the huge size of the Orakei-Maungakiekie and Mt Albert-Mt Roskill wards means getting effective representation will be difficult.

Manukau mayor and supercity candidate Len Brown says fewer local boards should give them the power needed to make a difference in their local communities, but is concerned the size of some of the wards, such as Orakei-Maungakiekie, are too big.

Auckland mayor John Banks says while his preference would have been for 28 local boards, the tight timeframe means "we must make it work".

If the draft proposal is accepted, Newmarket and Parnell will become part of the Maungawhau-Hauraki Gulf ward along with suburbs including Ponsonby, the central city and Mt Eden.

Western Bays Community Board chairman Bruce Kilmister says he isn’t happy with just one local board representing the mainland part of the ward.

"I think the local boards are too big.

"To say the needs of communities like Grey Lynn and Ponsonby can be compared to Parnell is stretching it too far."

Mr Kilmister says he wants to see a subdivision down the middle of the ward, which allows people to only vote for local board candidates who stand in their area.

All other local boards on the Auckland isthmus have at least one subdivision to improve local representation.

Commission chairwoman Sue Piper says issues such as public accessibility to councillors and the need for candidates to reflect a range of sectors in the community were among those considered.

The Local Government Commission is taking public submissions on its proposal until December 11 and a final decision will be made on March 1.

To make a submission email info@lgc.govt.nz, fax (04) 494-0501 or post to the chief executive officer, Local Government Commission, PO Box 5362, Wellington.

- © Fairfax NZ News