The Representation Commission ("Commission") hereby gives notice that it proposes to make a division of New Zealand into 64 General electoral districts and seven Maori electoral districts in accordance with sections 35 and 45 of the Electoral Act 1993. The following information is supplied pursuant to sections 38 and 45 of the Electoral Act 1993 and for the assistance of the public:
1. From 10.00am on Thursday 21 November 2013, the public may inspect, without charge, at the places listed in the Schedule hereto:
(a) the names and a description of the boundaries of the proposed districts, including maps; and
(b) a summary, in respect of each proposed district, of the reasons why the boundaries described are being proposed.
The above descriptions in text and map form can be viewed at
www.elections.org.nz
2. The Commission will receive written objections to the proposed boundaries, if in the hands of the Commission not later than 10.00am on Monday, 23 December 2013.
3. Objections must be in writing and should clearly state:
(i) the name, address and telephone contact number of the objector;
(ii) the electorate(s) to which the objection applies;
(iii) the specific proposal objected to;
(iv) the reasons for the objection;
(v) the precise change(s) suggested by the objector to overcome the objection, both within the electorate and for any electorates consequentially affected; and
(iv) whether the objector wishes to speak briefly to their objection before meetings of the Commission to be held in February 2014.
Notes: Where objection is taken to different proposals of the Commission, a separate objection should be filed in respect of each proposal.
An objection can be completed online at
www.elections.org.nz
Alternatively, a hard copy form can be downloaded from this website or obtained from Places of Inspection. It is not mandatory to use this form.
Objections and counter-objections may relate to the names of proposed electorates.
Whether or not an objector is heard, his or her written objection will be fully considered.
4. The Commission gives further notice that any objection may be lodged either:
by completing the online form at www.elections.org.nz
or by post addressed to The Secretary
Representation Commission
PO Box 3220
Wellington 6140
or by email to representation.commission@elections.govt.nz
or by facsimile to (04) 495 0031
or by hand delivery
before 10.00am on Monday
23 December 2013 to Electoral Commission
Level 10, Sovereign House
34-42 Manners Street
Wellington 6140
5. Late objections cannot be considered, ie those received after 10.00am on Monday 23 December.
6. Objectors to electoral boundaries are requested to relate the grounds of their objections, and the precise changes suggested by them, to the following statutory considerations.
All electorates must contain electoral populations varying not more than 5 percent from the following quotas:
Quota 5% Allowance
North Island General Electorates 59,731 ñ2,986
South Island General Electorates 59,679 ñ2,983
Maori Electorates 60,141 ñ3,007
Within those allowances, the Commission is required by law to give due consideration to certain criteria.
In the case of General electoral districts, these criteria are the existing boundaries of the General electoral districts, community of interest, facilities of communications, topographical features, and any projected variation in the General electoral population of those districts during their life.
In the case of Maori electoral districts, these criteria are the existing boundaries of the Maori electoral districts, community of interest among the Maori people generally and members of Maori tribes, facilities of communications, topographical features, and any projected variation in the Maori electoral population of those districts during their life.
7. All objections will be published in a summary form (which will include the objector's name) and will be open for public inspection for the purpose of allowing counter-objections to be filed. A public notice inviting counter-objections is expected to be gazetted on Tuesday 14 January 2014.
Dated at Wellington this 21st day of November 2013.
B. J. KENDALL, Chairman of the Representation Commission.
Schedule of Places for Inspection
General and Maori Electorates
1. The offices of all regional councils, district councils, city councils and council service centres.
2. The offices of all Registrars of Electors.
3. Te Puni Kokiri (regional development offices) at Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Featherston, Gisborne, Hamilton, Hastings, Invercargill, Kaitaia, Levin, Lower Hutt, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Rotorua, Taumarunui, Tauranga, Wairoa, Wellington, Whakatane, Whanganui and Whangarei.
4. Maori Land Court offices at Auckland, Christchurch, Gisborne, Hamilton, Hastings, Rotorua, Wellington, Whanganui and Whangarei.
5. The offices of Runanga (iwi offices) at Auckland, Awanui, Blenheim, Bluff, Chatham Islands, Christchurch, Coromandel, Dargaville, Dunedin, Gisborne, Gore, Hamilton, Hastings, Havelock North, Hawera, Helensville, Hokitika, Invercargill, Kaeo, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Kawhia, Levin, Lower Hutt, Manaia, Manutuke, Marton, Moeraki, Morrinsville, Mt Maunganui, Murupara, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oakura, Ohakune, Opotiki, Otaki, Paeroa, Palmerston North, Picton, Porirua, Rotorua, Taihape, Taneatua, Taupo, Tauranga, Te Kuiti, Temuka, Te Puke, Thames, Tokeroa, Turangi, Urenui, Waikanae, Waimate, Wairoa, Wellington, Whakatane, Whanganui, Whangaparaoa, Whangarei, Whangateau and Whitianga.
6. Public Libraries at Akaroa, Alexandra, Amberley, Ashburton, Ashhurst, Auckland, Balclutha, Blenheim, Bluff, Bulls, Cambridge, Cannons Creek, Carterton, Chatham Islands, Cheviot, Christchurch, Clyde, Cromwell, Culverden, Dannevirke, Darfield, Dargaville, Diamond Harbour, Dunedin, Eketahuna, Eltham, Fairlie, Featherston, Feilding, Foxton, Geraldine, Gisborne, Gore, Greta Valley, Greymouth, Greytown, Hamilton, Hampden, Hanmer Springs, Hastings, Havelock North, Hawarden, Hawera, Helensville, Henderson, Hokitika, Huapai, Huntly, Lower Hutt, Inglewood, Invercargill, Kaiapoi, Kaikohe, Kaikoura, Kaitaia, Kaiwaka, Kamo, Kaponga, Katikati, Kawakawa, Kawerau, Kerikeri, Lawrence, Leeston, Levin, Little River, Lower Hutt, Lumsden, Lyttelton, Manaia, Mangakino, Mangawhai, Mangere, Mangere Bridge, Mangere East, Manukau City, Manurewa, Martinborough, Marton, Massey, Masterton, Matamata, Mataura, Maungaturoto, Milton, Morrinsville, Mosgiel, Motueka, Mt Maunganui, Murchison, Napier, Nelson, New Lynn, New Plymouth, Ngaruawahia, Ngatea, Nightcaps, Northcote, Oakura, Oamaru, Ohakune, Omarama, Onerahi, Opotiki, Opunake, Orewa, Otaki, Otautau, Otematata, Otorohanga, Owaka, Oxford, Paeroa, Pahiatua, Paihia, Pakuranga, Palmerston North, Papamoa, Paparoa, Paraparaumu, Patea, Picton, Piha, Porirua, Porirua City, Port Chalmers, Pukekohe, Putaruru, Queenstown, Raetihi, Raglan, Ranfurly, Rangiora, Reefton, Riverton, Rolleston, Rotorua, Roxburgh, Shannon, Snells Beach, Stewart Island, Stratford, Tai Tapu, Taihape, Takaka, Tapanui, Taradale, Taumarunui, Taupo, Tauranga, Te Anau, Te Aroha, Te Awamutu, Te Kauwhata, Te Kuiti, Temuka, Te Puke, Thames, Timaru, Tirau, Tokoroa, Tuakau, Turangi, Twizel, Upper Hutt, Urenui, Waiheke Island, Waihi, Waihi Beach, Waikanae, Waikouaiti, Waimate, Wainuiomata, Waipawa, Waipukurau, Wairoa, Waitakere City, Waiuku, Wanaka, Whanganui, Waverley, Wellington, Wellsford, Westport, Whakatane, Whangamata, Whangaparaoa, Whangarei, Whitby, Whitianga, Winton, Woodville and Wyndham.