 Representation review
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In 2005 and 2006 Hamilton City Council reviewed its representation arrangements for the 2007 local authority triennial elections. This is required under the Local Electoral Act 2001 to be undertaken at least once every six years.
The review included the following:
- the number of elected members (within the legal requirement to have a minimum of six and a maximum of 30 members, including the Mayor)
- whether the elected members (other than the Mayor) shall be elected by the entire city (called ‘at large’ representation), or whether the city will be divided into wards for electoral purposes, or whether there will be a mix of at large and ward representation
- if election by wards is preferred, to determine the boundaries and names of those wards and the number of members that will represent each ward
- whether or not to have separate wards for electors on the Maori roll (electors can request Council to hold a poll on this issue)
- whether to have community boards and if so how many, their boundaries and membership, and whether to subdivide a community for electoral purposes.
As a result of the review, the 2007 and 2010 local elections were held using the First-Past-the-Post system of voting. From 2007, six councillors represent the West Ward and six councillors represent the East Ward, with the two wards divided by the Waikato River. The Mayor represents the whole of the city. Hamilton City Council currently has no community boards. |
Electoral voting systems
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Hamilton City Council currently operates its elections under the First-Past-the-Post (FPP) electoral system (this system was chosen as a result of a public referendum undertaken on 13 May 2006). Electors vote by indicating their preferred candidate, and the candidate that receives the most votes is declared the winner, regardless of the proportion of votes that candidate obtained.
The other option permitted under the Local Electoral Act 2001 is the ‘single transferable vote system’ (STV). This system, where electors rank candidates in order of preference, is currently used in district health board elections.
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Deciding which electoral system to use
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Under the Local Electoral Act 2001:
- Council can resolve to change the electoral system to be used at the next two elections without a poll, or
- Council can decide to conduct a binding poll of eligible electors on which electoral system to use, or
- Electors can demand that a binding poll be undertaken.
A poll can be demanded by at least 5% of eligible electors putting their name, address, and signature on a petition demanding that a poll be held. Once changed or decided by poll, an electoral system must be used for at least the next two triennial elections, meaning that the electoral system cannot be changed for one election and then changed back for the next one. The First Past the Post voting system was used for the 2007 and 2010 Hamilton City Council triennial elections.
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Changing the city's boundaries
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The Local Government Act 2002 sets out procedures that must be followed during proposals to:
- make changes to the boundaries of the city
- create a unitary authority (e.g. transfer all of the functions of a Regional Council to a City/District Council, or vice-versa)
- transfer a particular function or functions to another council.
The procedures for resolving each type of proposal are slightly different. In general, they begin with a proposal either from the local authority or the Minister of Local Government, or by a petition of 10% of electors.
Proposals for a boundary alteration or transfer of functions from one local authority to another, will be considered by a joint committee of the local authorities involved, or by an agreed appointed local authority, or by the Local Government Commission (if the local authorities refer the proposal to the Commission or if they cannot agree on which of them should deal with the matter).
The Local Government Commission has produced guidelines on procedures for local government reorganisation, please see their website www.lgc.govt.nz for more details.
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Contact
Go to Governance Statement Contents page
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Democratic Support Services
Level 9, Council Offices
Garden Place
Hamilton City Council
Private Bag 3010
Hamilton 3240
Phone: 838 6766
Fax: 838 6599
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