Official Information Request - Representation Review

Can you also provide any advice received by or requested by council regarding co-governance, and any analysis done by council regarding co-governance.

Refer to the Council website for the report and decision regarding Māori Wards. Work on the possibilities of co-governance is ongoing. At this stage no advice has been requested or received by Council.

Can you also provide any advice received by or requested by council regarding the formula for calculating seats for both the Māori electoral population and the general electoral population and any analysis done by council regarding the Māori electoral population and the general electoral population.

Refer to the attached presentation for the Elected member Forum #3 on 19 July 2021 and the report to the Strategy Policy & Finance Committee on 16 November (see attached schedule).

The formula for calculating seats is provided in the Local Electoral Act 2001. The populations for the Māori Electoral Roll and General Electoral Roll are provided to all territorial authorities via the Local Government Commission.

Were any other groups representing the Māori electoral population invited to attend these Workshops, Forums, Tatau o Te Arawa and if not why not.

Forums are held with elected members and Te Tatau o Te Arawa members only. General public are not invited to elected member Forum. See comment below regarding Māori organisations.

Were any groups representing the General electoral population invited to attend these Workshops, Forums, Information sessions, Briefings, Meetings and if not why not.

500+ community groups and/or associations (general and Māori) were provided with awareness material, directing them to Council’s Let’s Talk platform for more information and an opportunity to undertake a survey, along with advice of the online information sessions.

Does council consider Māori as a community of interest?

Does Council consider non-Māori as a community of interest?

Council has determined that the proposed representation models provide effective representation of communities of interest within the district. This necessarily includes both Māori and non-Māori.

Refer to the Council website for the report and decision regarding Māori Wards, which sets out the reasons for adopting Māori Wards.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision. The Ombudsman’s Office can be contacted by calling 0800 802 602, emailing info@ombudsman.parliament.nz, online at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz, or by post to The Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143.

Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests

Please note: Our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Rotorua Lakes Council website after they have been responded to, with requesters’ personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about this please contact the Council on info@rotorualc.nz

Regards