Electorate boundaries under debate

The Central Otago District Council has added its voice to calls for the Representation Commission to create an inland seat in Otago.

The counter-objection period for the proposed electorate boundaries for the 2020 and 2023 elections closed yesterday.

There were 332 initial objections made to the boundaries, and a further 106 people lodged counter objections this month.

Of those 106, 13 related to Dunedin South; most were identical, in what appears to be a co-ordinated campaign to have the electorate’s name changed to Clutha-Taieri or Taieri.

‘‘Most of the Clutha area that is being shifted aligns more with Dunedin than Southland,’’ submitter Gaye Cowie said.

‘‘We recommend that the electorate is named Taieri being the name of the river that runs through the heart of the area.’’

Of the counter-objections lodged regarding Waitaki (3) and Clutha-Southland (8), most concerned arguments for and against creating a seat in Central Otago, which would encompass the Lakes district.

The Central Otago District Council submitted that the Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago Districts had similar and linked economies, climates, geography and cultures.

‘‘The formation of an inland Otago electoral seat will allow ... for a clear community of interest to be recognised.’’

Under the proposed boundaries, Cromwell - the Central Otago town nearest geographically to Queenstown - would remain in Waitaki when it would better sit in Clutha-Southland, the council submission said.

‘‘Moving Roxburgh, Alexandra and Clyde into the Clutha-Southland electorate again does not reflect a community of interest.

‘‘There is little economically or socially linking these towns with, for example, Lumsden or Winton.’’

While several submitters argued that Queenstown and Wanaka should be in the same electorate, Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean - whose electorate covers Wanaka - submitted in favour of the status quo.

‘‘People often have the view that Wanaka is very different from Queenstown, and they want to keep it that way.’’

The Representation Commission will hold five days of public hearings on the proposed boundaries, including a session in the Dunedin District Court on February 11.

mike.houlahan@odt.co.nz