Kiwiblog today reports that the Local Government Commission has completed a determination for Rotorua which will result in three Māori Ward Councillors being elected, but without sacrificing equality of suffrage.
As Kiwiblog tells us, the commission favours –
* An urban general ward – 48,410 people elect six councillors – 8,068 population per councillor.
* A Māori ward – 21,700 people elect three councillors – 7,233 population per councillor
* A rural general ward – 7,200 people elect one councillor – 7,200 population per councillor.
This means the commission has rejected Rotorua Lakes Council’s model which comprised one Māori ward seat, one general ward seat and eight at-large seats.
To implement the council model, special legislation has been introduced to Parliament to over-ride requirements of the Local Elections Act.
