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Council Representation Review
We're proposing changes to the way your communities are represented
With significant growth in Central Otago/Queenstown Lakes, the Otago Regional Council is proposing reducing the number of councillors in Dunedin by one and adding one to the Dunstan constituency
It is proposed that the Council comprise 12 members elected from four constituencies. The four constituencies reflect the following identified communities of interest:
|
Constituency |
Communities of interest |
|
Moeraki Constituency |
Comprising the Otago portion of the Waitaki District territorial area, being part of the Ahuriri and Corriedale wards, and the entirety of the Oamaru ward and Waihemo ward |
|
Dunedin Constituency |
Comprising the comprising central Dunedin and the Waikouaiti Coast, West Harbour, Otago Peninsula and Saddle Hill community board areas located within the Dunedin City territorial area. |
|
Dunstan Constituency |
Comprising the Central Otago District and Queenstown Lakes District territorial areas |
|
Molyneux Constituency |
Comprising the Clutha District territorial area and Mosgiel-Taieri and Strath-Taieri community board areas located within the Dunedin City territorial area |
The population that each member will represent is as follows:
|
Constituency |
Population
|
Members |
Population per member |
|
Moeraki Constituency |
22,300 |
1 |
22,300 |
|
Dunedin Constituency |
115,200 |
5 |
23,040 |
|
Dunstan Constituency |
78,800 |
4 |
19,700 |
|
Molyneux Constituency |
38,300 |
2 |
19,150 |
|
Total |
254,600 |
12 |
21,217 |
In accordance with section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents must be within the range of 21,217 +/- 10% (19,096 – 23,338), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.
All of the proposed constituencies fall within the stipulated range.
The public are invited to make written submissions on the Council’s representation proposal and any other suggestions they may have about councillor numbers or ward boundaries.
Submissions open July 10 and close August 11 and can be made either online at www.orc.govt.nz/RepReview24 or by mail to:
Attention – Amanda Vercoe, 027 220 3634
Otago Regional Council Dunedin office: 144 Rattray Street, Level 2, Philip Laing House, Dunedin
or
Otago Regional Council Queenstown office: 1092 Frankton Road, Alta House Level 1/Terrace Junction, Frankton, Queenstown.
Every six years councils must review how communities are represented in the make-up of their council. A representation review looks at the structures in place, including:
- the number of constituencies (electoral areas) and their boundaries
- the number of elected members (councillors) representing each constituency
The representation review cannot change the people who are currently elected but it may increase the number of councillors - 14 is the maximum number of councillors a regional council can have.
The last representation review for Otago Regional Council was completed in 2018. No changes were made to the existing constituencies or number of councillors.
Representation reviews require Council to look at three key concepts:
- Communities of interest: to identify what communities of interest exist across the district, which is relevant to determining the number and boundaries of constituencies
- Effective representation of communities of interest: to identify what’s the best structure to maintain access and representation that recognises these communities of interest, which is relevant to determining the number of members
- Fair representation of electors: to ensure that each councillor should represent roughly the same number of people, which is relevant for ensuring equality of representation per member.
Current arrangement
The Otago Regional Council is made up of 12 Councillors, elected from four constituencies:
| Dunstan | 3 |
| Moeraki | 1 |
| Molyneux | 2 |
| Dunedin | 6 |
Further Information
Copies of the Council’s resolution and maps setting out the areas of the proposed constituencies may be viewed and obtained from
- Otago Regional Council Dunedin office: 144 Rattray Street, Level 2, Philip Laing House, Dunedin
- Otago Regional Council Queenstown office: 1092 Frankton Road, Alta House Level 1/Terrace Junction, Frankton, Queenstown
Any queries regarding the Council’s decision should be directed to Amanda Vercoe, 027 220 3634, governance@orc.govt.nz
The latest population data supplied from Stats NZ indicated that following population growth over the past six years, the Dunstan constituency now falls outside the +/- 10% margin of the average across the region, and thus no longer meets the legislative requirements for fair representation.
In the initial proposal, constituency boundaries haven’t changed, but it is proposed that the Dunstan constituency gains an elected member (moving from three (3) to four (4)), and the Dunedin constituency loses an elected member (from six (6) to five(5)).
Council considered that this will result in more elected member representation in the Dunstan constituency, and given the relatively compact size and form of the Dunedin City area, the representation needs of the community can be effectively supported by five elected members.
es, alternative options were considered, including establishing a new constituency for part of the upper lakes, with various boundaries considered. However, there were challenges to do this within the legislated +/-10% rule (the population per member ratio), without splitting up territorial authority boundaries.
Consideration was also given to moving the Mosgiel-Taieri community board area and Strath Taieri community board area into the Dunedin constituency, however, the end decision was to leave these areas in the Molyneux constituency.
For further information, see the council discussions below:
Link to Council paper 26 June 2024
Link to Council paper 22 May 2024 (page 252)
Every six years councils must review how communities are represented in the make-up of their council. A representation review looks at the structures in place, including:
- the number of constituencies (electoral areas) and their boundaries
- the number of elected members (councillors) representing each constituency
- the names of the constituencies
The representation review cannot change the people who are currently elected but it may increase the number of councillors (14 is the maximum number of councillors a Regional Council can have).
The last representation review for Otago Regional Council was completed in 2018 and resulted in no change - Council remained having 12 Councillors representing 4 constituencies.
Council must ensure their communities have fair and effective representation.
Fair representation means each elected member represents about the same number of people (within +/- 10 percent of the region's population divided by the total number of Councillors).
Effective representation relates to the Councillors’ ability to represent their constituency and ensure matters important to their electorate are heard.
A ward or constituency (or electoral area) is a specific area or zone. Just like how a city might be divided into different neighbourhoods or districts, the Otago region is divided into different constituencies.
Councillors are elected for each constituency to be the voice of the people on Council for their respective communities, and represent their views in decision making.
The Local Electoral Act 2001 gives the Council the option to consider establishing a separate Māori constituency. Council gave consideration to a Māori Ward in discussions with mana whenua in 2023. At that time, no decision was made to take the discussion further. Council currently has representation through iwi appointees to its governance committees.
Council gave consideration to the electoral system at its meeting on 23 August 2023, and resolved to change electoral system to Single Transferable Vote for the 2025 and 2028 local body elections.
The Chairperson and councillors of the Otago Regional Council are collectively responsible for the following:
- the development and adoption of Council policy
- monitoring the ongoing performance of Council against its stated objectives and policies (including signoff of the Annual Report)
- ensuring the prudent use and stewardship of Council resources
- representing the interest of the region
