Having someone to fight your corner in one of the country's most dynamic districts is mostly a numbers game - and Arrowtown is losing it.
The historic village technically needs 473 ``new'' residents to maintain the ratio required for a seat at the council table.
But there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Yesterday, district councillors heard opinions from members of the public on how communities should be represented on the council in the future.
Thirty-six submissions were made to the Representation Review 2018 and seven submitters turned up at the council chambers to voice their opinions directly.
Chief concern was retaining the Arrowtown ward councillor - 19 of the submissions were from Arrowtowners, while others submitted on Arrowtown from elsewhere.
Soaring population elsewhere in the district means Arrowtown ward now does not comply with the Local Electoral Act's requirements for fair representation.
The busy gold rush village has a population of just 3240, although it welcomes tens of thousands of tourists each year. Queenstown-Wakatipu ward has a population of 22,290 and six councillors, Wanaka ward 11,600 and three.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council has proposed options to address the problem.
One is to retain the status quo and attempt to justify it to the Local Government Commission in some other way, as Arrowtown is a ``community of interest''.
Another is to expand Arrowtown ward to take in houses at Millbrook Golf Resort, or expand even further afield.
Or Arrowtown and Queenstown-Wakatipu wards could be combined, effectively removing Arrowtown's seat.
No-one who spoke yesterday seemed in favour of that, although some written submissions supported it.
Former Arrowtown councillor David Clarke outlined in his submission why he supported the ``status quo and justify'' option.
He believes the village needs someone ``there on the ground, sorting out problems and issues on a daily basis'' and a ``strong voice'' at the council table.
``This is not a case of parochialism ... it is a common sense approach that ensures Arrowtown's interests are met and Arrowtown continues to be a major drawcard for this district due to its special character.''
Mr Clarke would support the ward's expansion if necessary.
``However ... I would not like to see this serving as a Trojan horse for greenfields development just so we can qualify for representation in the future.''
Submitter Mark Samways suggested a more radical solution - vastly expanding Arrowtown ward to include Gibbston, Lake Hayes, Dalefield and Threepwood Farm to counter the growth in Lake Hayes Estate and new subdivisions.
However, perhaps the most elegant solution came from outside the township.
Glenorchy's John Glover suggested increasing the number of Queenstown-Wakatipu ward councillors by two, and adding another Wanaka councillor.
That is a compliant option in a growing district, but would come with a cost.
It would, however, also address a perceived lack of representation in Wanaka and specifically from some at Lake Hawea.
Cr Scott Stevens represents Arrowtown ward.
A final proposal will be presented to the full council on September 6.
