Rotorua now has certainty about the local representation model that will apply to this year’s local elections following the Maori Affairs Select Committee’s decision to pause the Rotorua District Council (Local Representation) Bill process.

The Bill seeks a preferred local representation model for Rotorua that current legislation does not allow for and if successful, needed to be in place by June to be implemented for this year’s local elections.

The pause in the Bill process, which was requested by Rotorua Lakes Council, means that is no longer possible and the model that will be used for this year’s elections will be the model determined recently by the Local Government Commission.

The model

• A Maori ward with 3 elected members
• A general ward with 6 elected members
• A rural ward with 1 elected member (the ward covering the same area as the existing Rotorua Rural Community Board)
• A rural community board and a lakes community board, each with 4 elected members

The Mayor will be elected at-large (ie all voters will be able to vote for their preferred mayoral candidate).

10 councillors elected from across 3 wards.

What does this mean for voters?

• Those on the Maori electoral roll will be able to vote for 3 Maori ward candidates and mayor. Maori on the Maori electoral roll and living in the rural ward will not be able to vote for a rural ward candidate.
• Those living in the rural ward and on the general roll will be able to vote for 1 rural candidate and mayor.
• Those on the general roll who are not rural or on the Maori roll will be able to vote for 6 councillor candidates and a mayor.

Rotorua Lakes Council will be undertaking an awareness and education campaign to inform voters and potential candidates ahead of the election in October.

Rotorua Lakes Council sought a pause in the local Bill process aimed at achieving a preferred representation model to enable time to provide additional advice to the Committee following concerns raised by the Attorney-General.

The Māori Affairs Committee, by majority, decided this week to pause the hearings of oral submissions that were scheduled for Friday, 6 May 2022.

The committee says it is awaiting further advice about the concerns raised by the Attorney-General regarding the bill’s consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Upon receipt of advice, the committee will determine its next steps.