Poll: voters support citywide voting

Most people believe Palmerston North city councillors should be elected from votes throughout the city, instead of from five separate areas, a poll of residents shows.

A citywide voting system was favoured by 53 per cent of respondents, 33 per cent wanted the five wards to stay and 14 per cent did not know.

The poll of 467 registered voters was commissioned by the Manawatu Standard and carried out by Versus Research.

Support for citywide voting comes ahead of a non-binding referendum on the issue at next month's election.

Horizons regional councillor Vern Chettleburgh, who led the push for a referendum, said the poll result justified putting it to the people. More than half of the city appeared to be unhappy with the status quo, he said. "They want the opportunity to vote for people from any part of town."

Councillor Peter Wheeler, an advocate for wards, said he was not surprised the poll showed support for citywide voting. But he said he would not have had enough money to run a citywide campaign.

Citywide voting was the "in thing", but wards ensured councillors were spread around the city.

Mr Wheeler recalled that, in the past, 10 of 13 councillors came from Hokowhitu and six of those 10 lived within six streets of each other.

Citywide voting seemed to favour candidates who were well known, he said, making it harder for first-time candidates to get elected.

Councillor Gordon Cruden said voters were disenfranchised by the ward system, which allowed them to elect only two to four of the 15 councillors making decisions on their behalf.

If citywide voting was introduced, he would support the continuation of informal ward forums.

- © Fairfax NZ News