Marlborough Sounds ward retains three councillors

The Marlborough Sounds ward will retain three councillors for the next council term, despite one appeal from a member of the public, the Local Government Commission has confirmed.

The decision confirmed the Marlborough District Council will have 14 councillors and a mayor up for grabs in this year's election.

This is one more councillor than currently – after councillors voted for the inclusion of a Māori ward in May last year.

The council initially proposed to drop the number of councillors in the Marlborough Sounds from three to two – with the proposal sent out for public feedback in September last year.

But 27 of 29 submissions – from community groups and individuals – submitted the ward should retain three councillors.

It prompted the council to back-track - arguing it should have three councillors on the Marlborough Sounds ward.

This fell outside the Local Electoral Act, which states councillors in different wards are supposed to represent about the same number of people.

Figures from the last local election showed each Marlborough Sounds councillor represented about 2947 voters – below Wairau-Awatere councillors, with 4300 voters a head, and Blenheim councillors, with 4071 a head.

So the proposal fell outside a plus or minus 10 per cent population formula in the Local Electoral Act, and was referred to the Local Government Commission for sign-off.

Reasons the council put forward for this included; the Local Government Commission endorsing three councillors in the last three representation reviews and the number of areas in the Marlborough Sounds with closed roads, limited internet and mobile collection.

The proposal was publicly notified on November 18, and appealed by former councillor David Dew – who argued it was non-compliant because of the plus or minus 10 per cent rule.

An online hearing was held on March 3, with the council represented by Marlborough Mayor John Leggett, deputy mayor Nadine Taylor, Blenheim Ward councillor Gerald Hope and three senior staff members.

David argued the council initially proposed only two councillors, and some submissions made from community groups, like those in Rai Valley, were not actually isolated communities. He said the isolated population was “only about 200”, the decision said.

He questioned a submission made by Federated Farmers in support of retaining three councillors – and whether there were that many operating farms in the Sounds.

He also said when he was a member of the council, Marlborough Sounds residents often contacted him.

The decision said the council did not agree only 200 people were isolated. They argued six farms were cut off by road closures on Kenepuru Rd last year.

The commission concluded to effectively represent the Marlborough Sounds and its isolated communities, it should have three councillors, and non-compliance with the plus or minus 10 per cent rule continued to be justified.

Marlborough Sounds ward councillor and deputy mayor Nadine Taylor says the representation review is a really good process for Marlborough – not just the isolated communities in the Marlborough Sounds.

“It addressed everything, we looked at whether the wards were the appropriate thing for Marlborough, or whether we would move to general seats,” Nadine says.

“I think that's a good outcome. It works well for this province. People connect well with councillors through the ward system.

“I'm personally, as one of the Sounds ward councillors, really pleased that they [Local Government Commission] listened to our explanation.

“We are talking about the heart of democracy here, we're talking about proportionate representation, and I think the appeal and the appellant raised some really good points.”

Marlborough Sounds ward councillor David Oddie says the decision is a great outcome for the community – given the ward’s complexity.

Marlborough Sounds ward councillor Barbara Faulls thought it was the best outcome for that community – but also for Marlborough councillors.

“It just means that we can effectively and fairly represent those constituents in our ward, but also effectively contribute across the rest of Marlborough as well,” Barbara says.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ on Air.