There was general support, but some misgivings, when members of the public had their say on Monday about plans for a new Dunedin "super ward" that could be in place by next year's city council elections.
In June, the Dunedin City Council voted in support of a super ward that would mean the ward system could be scrapped in favour of 11 urban councillors, and three councillors representing two rural seats.
The change would mean most Dunedin voters would no longer be restricted to voting for three or four councillors in their ward, and having no say on the rest.
Instead, the Dunedin central area, for instance, with a population of 97,880, would vote for 11 of 14 councillors, while a Mosgiel-Taieri ward would have two councillors and a Waikouaiti-Chalmers ward one.
Brian Miller, of East Taieri, said being able to vote for only a small percentage of the council "doesn't seem fair to me, and doesn't seem democratic".
"Why would you bother to vote?"
Mr Miller suggested one ward for the whole city, and changes to the make-up of community boards.
William Lloyd argued for a central ward with seven councillors, and four smaller wards for Strath Taieri, Waikouaiti, the Otago Peninsula and the Mosgiel-Taieri area outside the Mosgiel urban area.
Otago Peninsula Community Board member Christine Garey said most councillors would not recognise community board members if they met them in the street.
More councillors needed to attend meetings, she said, not just the councillors on the boards.
Waikouaiti Coast Community Board member Geraldine Tait was opposed to the super ward idea.
The election process was already confusing, she said. She questioned how many people were well informed when they voted.
The new system would make running for council too expensive, would exclude women and ethnic groups, and would mean 30 or more candidates would have to give their views at pre-election meetings.
"I think we're going to lose if we have a huge ward like this."
Cr Kate Wilson said there were few women under the current system, to which Ms Tait said it would get worse with a super ward.
Mayor Peter Chin said the council would consider the submissions, and debate and vote on the matter on September 7.
The council must make a decision by September 15, followed by an appeal period that ends on October 15. If there is an appeal, the Local Government Commission makes a final decision.
