Three options have been put forward to Hastings District Council as part of a representation review about setting up Māori wards, which could see the number of councillors change. Photo / NZME
Three options have been put forward to Hastings District Council as part of a representation review about setting up Māori wards, which could see the number of councillors change. Photo / NZME
The number of Hastings District councillors could grow or shrink by one as part of a representation review prompted by council's decision to establish Māori wards earlier this year.
But whichever option they choose, it appears Flaxmere will lose one seat, raising questions about whether representation for the distinct areawill be diminished.
The Hastings council, which had battles over the urban and rural split when it was established after widespread local government re-organisation, currently has 14 councillors, comprising 10 from the urban wards (Hastings-Havelock North eight, Flaxmere two) and four from rural wards (Heretaunga two, Kahurānaki one, Mohaka one).
The three options that have been put to council to decide on, could see this current number grow by one, stay the same or shrink by two.
The first option, which appears to be the preferred, would see the district divided into a total of six wards - five general wards and one Māori ward - with 15 councillors.
The Flaxmere and Hastings-Havelock North wards would each lose a seat, with three new seats established under the new Māori ward named Takitimu.
The number of councillors elected from the rural wards in Heretaunga, Kahurānaki and Mohaka would remain the same.
A second option would be similar to the above, however, Hastings-Havelock North would lose an additional seat (from eight to six) and the total number of councillors would remain the same as it is currently.
Three Māori seats would result from the new Takitimu ward.
Each of the proposals to set up Māori wards would cost Flaxmere a seat but with 40 per cent on the Māori electoral roll, could exert significant influence within the Takitimu Māori ward. Photo / NZME
The third option, which seems to be the least preferred and would cause the most significant changes, would see the total number of councillors shrink to 12.
The Hastings-Havelock North ward would drop to six seats and Flaxmere to one, while the Heretaunga, Kahurānaki and Mohaka would be rolled into one rural ward with three seats.
There would only be two Māori seats in the new Takitimu ward.
In a report to council, members of the Heretaunga Takoto Noa Māori Standing Committee said having supported council to introduce Māori ward, they expected to see a set of representation arrangements that provided for three Māori ward Councillors.
They felt option three would "water down" Māori representation and would not provide effective representation.
The report also raised concerns about the "relative under-representation" of Flaxmere under each option, which fell below the Local Government Commission's fair representation requirement.
Flaxmere is regarded as a strongly identifiable community of interest, with large Māori and Pasifika communities, higher relative levels of socio-economic deprivation and fewer commercial and community services than the other urban areas of the district.
However, this might be mitigated as with a Māori electoral population of 5343, Flaxmere would exert significant influence within the Takitimu Māori ward.
Long-serving Flaxmere councillor Henare O'Keefe said he was going into the meeting open-minded but with a focus for what would serve the people in Flaxmere best.
"What's good for Flaxmere is good for everyone. We need to approach it with that in mind."
He said it was "not a one size fits all".
Hastings District's Flaxmere councillor Henare O'Keefe said he was keeping an open mind about what the representation review could mean for his ward and Māori representation. Photo / NZME
O'Keefe noted the high needs of the people of Flaxmere and that a significant number of its residents - about 40 per cent - were on the Māori electoral roll.
"I have to trust that [it will lead to better representation].
"If the number of councillors increase, that would give us more representation. We could potentially end up with three councillors."
O'Keefe, who at the last election in 2019 received 893 votes behind fellow Flaxmere ward councillor Peleti Oli's 1140 votes, said he wasn't concerned about what the potential change would mean for his future on council.
"I put myself at that table as it's no good doing the haka from the outside.
"I will be taking the lead from the integrity of the council."
There are also significant possible implications of the representation review for rural residents.
The paper put to council noted there was "a clearly distinct rural community of interest" within the Hastings District which differed from its urban areas and the Heretaunga Plains.
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst previously told Hawke's Bay Today that a survey showed 76 per cent of the community were in favour of establish Māori wards prior to council making its decision in May.
"I was very proud that our council took the opportunity to demonstrate true partnership," she said.
"Hastings district currently has a mayor and 14 councillors and one of the things we need to determine is if that is still the right number.
"With Hastings district's growing population, reviewing our arrangements for electing councillors is important, and we need to ensure our representation model is still efficient and effective for everyone."
Councillors will vote on which of these options to put to forward to the public on at their next meeting on Thursday.
Councils across have until August 31 to decide on a proposal (preferred option) and September 8 to make public notification for consultation.
