Status quo for local body elections

Masterton councillors this week agreed to stick with the First Past the Post electoral system.

Masterton voters will be voting for their district councillors in the same way they have in the past when elections roll around again in 2016 and 2019.

That's if all things remain equal, bearing in mind the Local Government Commission's decision on the future of local body governance in Wairarapa is on hold until after the general election.

At this week's meeting of the policy and finance committee, Masterton councillors agreed to stick with the First Past the Post electoral system, as opposed to switching to a Single Transferable Vote method of choosing councillors.

The decision was unanimous although councillor Chris Peterson said his support was only forthcoming bearing in mind the uncertainty of a decision by the commission which could see either a Wairarapa Unitary Authority formed combining all district councils, a "super city" model linking Wairarapa with Wellington or the status quo remaining.

Mr Peterson said he would go along with the First Past the Post recommendation rather than create more confusion for voters at this time.

The Local Electoral Act requires a council to consider its future voting method two years prior to an election, meaning the decision had to be made this year by September 12.

First Past The Post is used for most local body elections though there are some exceptions, notably Wellington City Council which uses the Single Transferable Vote system.