Residents make last-ditch effort to retain two members for ward

Cutting the number of Flaxmere councillors from two to one has become the biggest sticking point ahead of the introduction of Ma¯ori wards to Hastings District Council — with residents making a last-ditch attempt to save that second seat.

Ma¯ori ward councillors are set to be introduced to the council for the 2022 local body elections.

However, exactly how best to reshuffle the existing council and introduce Ma¯ ori ward councillors has been the cause of much debate.

A final proposal by Hastings District Council was put before the Local Government Commission following public consultation last year. The commission will have the final say around that proposal by April 11.

Before making its decision, the commission held an appeals hearing last month to listen to and consider any final objections.

Six of the seven people who made a submission on February 17 opposed the reduction of two Flaxmere councillors to one.

Under the proposal, three Ma¯ori ward councillors would be introduced to the council and the overall number of councillors would be increased from 15 (including the mayor) to 16 (including the mayor).

Two seats from the general wards — Flaxmere and Hastings/Havelock North — would be axed to make room for the new Ma¯ori ward councillors.

Long-term Flaxmere resident Sandra Tuilaepa said during the appeals hearing the Flaxmere population warranted two councillors.

During the 2018 census, Hastings District had a population of 81,000 people which included more than 11,000 people in Flaxmere — roughly 13.5 per cent of the region’s total.

One of the commissioners, Sue Piper, also questioned the move to axe a Flaxmere councillor, considering it was not guaranteed any of the three Ma¯ori ward councillors would hail from Flaxmere.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst defended the proposal.

“We think a single councillor can represent the views of the Flaxmere ward effectively.”