Should Invercargill have council wards, community boards, Maori representation, more or fewer councillors - these topics are up for discussion in the current Invercargill City Council representation review.

Every six years, the council is legally required to consider whether it needs to change the way ratepayers are represented.

The council opened the discussion in March by appointing a community panel to undertake the first phase of community consultation.

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The panel is chaired by councillor Rebecca Amundsen and includes Anna Ford, David Pottinger, Aditi Raj, and Michael Skerrett. 

It has published some information in a booklet on the council’s website and is keen to hear from the public again by April 30.

Questions include: how many councillors (Invercargill currently has 12 plus the Mayor and can have as few as 6 and as many as 30), should there be a ward system for councillors, and should there be a Maori ward in Invercargill.

The booklet contains suggested maps for two ward-based scenarios – one with four wards and one with six wards. The current scenario is to have no wards, with all councillors representing the community “at large”.

The document also asks if residents want to keep the Bluff Community Board, and whether there other areas that could also have community boards.

Panel members were available at long term plan consultation events at Murihiku Marae today and would also be available at Countdown Tay Street on Wednesday (April 21) from noon.

Deputy Electoral Officer Michael Morris said all aspects of what makes up an elected council would be considered. 

“The panel will be looking to ask you, our community, whether you think we should change the number of Councillors elected every three years, how they are elected, whether there should be any changes to the Bluff Community Board or if we should have more community boards, and whether we should have Māori ward in Invercargill,” Mr Morris said. 

A third phase of consultation would occur after the council produces its final proposal.

Depending on feedback, that final proposal would be amended prior to adoption in time for the 2022 Elections.

The booklet is available HERE.

Review information HERE.