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Last modified: 29 Jul 2024 1:13pm

map of new rep review model

The Selwyn District Council has approved a proposal to go out for consultation to change the ward boundaries and the number of councillors for the district to ensure fair and effective representation at the 2025 local government elections.

The proposal will maintain four wards but reduce the number of councillors from 10 to eight, with the Malvern and Ellesmere Wards moving to one councillor, with three councillors each for the Rolleston and Springs Wards. It also proposes a model without Community Boards.

The four wards are similar to the current structure, with minimal boundary changes. West Melton would join Prebbleton and Lincoln at a township level, and Burnham would join Rolleston.

The proposal was agreed upon after extensive research and consultation among Selwyn communities. It is part of the Council’s ongoing representation review, which aims to adapt to the district’s growing population in accordance with the Electoral Act.

A preliminary consultation held in April invited the community to suggest new names for the wards. Based on the feedback and in conjunction with Rūnaka, names reflecting the area's history and landmarks have been proposed: Tawera Malvern Ward, Kā Mānia Rolleston Ward, Te Waihora Ellesmere Ward, and Kā Puna Springs Ward.

Since the last representation review in 2021, Selwyn’s population has continued to grow rapidly but unevenly across the district. This has resulted in current councillors representing an uneven number of people and ward boundaries that are no longer appropriate.

“There are many factors influencing representation, but one of the key principles of fair representation is that each elected member should represent around the same number of people,” says Deputy Mayor Malcolm Lyall.

“This proposal will ensure a more equal distribution of councillors and ward boundaries to give all our people fair and equal representation around the Council table.”

In the new proposal, the three councillors for the Kā Mānia Rolleston and Kā Puna Springs wards represent 32,310 and 28,490 residents, respectively, while the councillors for Tawera Malvern and Te Waihora Ellesmere represent 9510 and 10,930 residents, respectively.

The Deputy Mayor acknowledges that several submissions from rural areas expressed concern that they would lose their voice around the Council table due to the population growth in urban areas.

“Our Council is acutely aware of these concerns and will continue to represent the needs of the Selwyn district to the best of their ability. The council will continue to have a strong rural representation from Malvern and Ellesmere. Still, we cannot ignore the district's changing demographics, and we are bound by the rules of the Electoral Act.”

Residents will be invited to give feedback on the proposal from 8 August 2024 and will have five weeks in which to do so.