Representation Review

UPDATE: Having considered over 300 submissions on an initial Representation Review proposal, the full Council adopted an amended proposal on 16 September, 2021.

This includes that the wards shall be: Queenstown-Whakatipu (with four Councillors), Arrowtown-Kawarau (with three Councillors), and Wānaka-Upper Clutha (with four Councillors). Additionally, the Wānaka Community Board will be retained as the Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board with four elected members and three of the four Wānaka-Upper Clutha Councillors as appointed members.

Full details of the proposal, including the boundaries of the wards, can be found in the document Final Proposal for Representation Arrangements on the right.

The next stage of the process is an appeals/objections period. Submitters can lodge appeals against the amended proposal but only on matters already raised in their submission. Members of the public who have not yet submitted can make an objection to the amended proposal, but must identify which part of the proposal they specifically object to.

Appeals and objections close at 5.00pm on 22 October 2021 and should be lodged with the Council [emailed to: governance@qldc.govt.nz, attention Jane Robertson].

Further details can be found in the document, Final Proposal for Representation Arrangements.

**

Submissions on the Representation Review are now closed. Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a submission. You can view the submissions on the right.

Next steps:

There will be two hearings:

• 1.00 pm Thursday 26 August in the Council Chambers, 10 Gorge Road, Queenstown
• 10.00 am Friday, 27 August in the Armstrong Room, Lake Wānaka Centre, 89 Ardmore Street, Wānaka

The hearings are open to the public but only submitters may speak at these hearings. The full Council will sit as the hearings panel.

From the information presented at the hearings, Council will consider whether to retain the original proposal or to change it. Council officers will present the recommendations in a report to the Full Council meeting on 16 September.

If the Council retains the original proposal consulted on as its final representation model, submitters will have a right of appeal to the Local Government Commission, but only in how the decision relates to their original submission. However, if the Council adopts a different model from what was consulted on, a general right of objection will exist, and anyone can lodge an objection.

The period of appeal/objection is for one month and these should be submitted to Council which is responsible for collating the material (all submissions, appeals and objections, and other materials as specified in S.19R of the Local Electoral Act) and forwarding to the Local Government Commission. The month-long appeal/objection period will begin from publication of a public notice after the meeting on 16 September.

The Local Government Commission is considering 44 representation reviews across New Zealand this year and has until 11 April 2022 to release its final decision to QLDC.

**

We’re reviewing how Queenstown Lakes District Council represents our communities and we want to hear from you.

All councils in Aotearoa New Zealand are required to undertake a representation review every six years. Our last review was in 2018.

A review considers a number of things including how many Councillors are required, geographical boundaries of wards, names of those wards, identifying communities of interest, and if community boards should be established or retained. The role of Mayor is not part of the review.

An independent advisory group made an initial recommendation, which has been revised and agreed in principle by the Council.

Now it’s over to you to let us know whether you think the recommended approach will provide fair representation across the district. Submissions close 6 August 2021.

What’s proposed?

• The district elects a total of 12 councillors across four wards;
• All Councillors are elected in wards;
• The names of the wards shall be: Whakatipu, Kawarau, Arrowtown and Wānaka-Hāwea;
• The boundaries of each ward are described as:

1. the boundary of the Wānaka-Hāwea Ward shall be the same as the current Wānaka Ward;
2. the external boundary of the Whakatipu and Kawarau Wards combined shall be the same as the present Queenstown-Wakatipu Ward;
3. the Kawarau Ward shall exclude the present Arrowtown Ward and the boundary of the Arrowtown Ward shall be the same as present;
4. the boundary between the Whakatipu and Kawarau Wards shall generally follow the line of the Shotover River and the eastern boundary of the lower part of Lake Whakatipu, with diversions to include Kelvin Peninsula in the Whakatipu Ward and Arthurs Point in the Kawarau Ward;
5. the Whakatipu Ward shall be located generally to the west of the Shotover River and eastern boundary of the lower part of Lake Whakatipu and the Kawarau Ward;

• The voters in each Whakatipu and Wānaka-Hāwea wards shall elect four Councillors;
• The voters in Arrowtown ward shall elect one Councillor;
• The voters in Kawarau ward shall elect three Councillors;
• There shall be no community boards in the district;

For more information

For more information relating to the Representation Review, including the Independent Advisory Group's recommendation, frequently asked questions, a detailed summary, and boundary maps, check out the related documents section on the right.

Still have questions?

Ask us a question below and we’ll organise an answer as soon as possible.

How to make a submission

Submissions closed 6 August 2021.