Rural South Wairarapa residents have asked local government’s Representation Commission for a “full seat at the council table” to represent rural dwellers, not just a six-member rural and coastal advisory group to advance their issues.
Rural ward advocate, farmer Dan Riddiford, told an appeal hearing of the Local Government Commission: “Rural is different from urban. We are not effectively or responsibly represented.
“Rural wards should include all areas where the Council do(es) not deliver water services or other benefits and where ‘we do for ourselves,’ except for the roading network. “Consultation must be daily practised,” he said. “Democracy and democratic process are dead in the SWDC. The rules of natural justice require that we be heard.”
He dismissed the rural and coastal advisory group as “a sop. Rural don’t want to settle for second best.”
Dairy farmer Jim Hedley said urban votes rule, “there is no farmer representation on the council at present,” and current “council representation shows farmers are not part of South Wairarapa.”
When consultation occurred, formal council workshops only included “selected” community members. “Workshops are closed to the public. They (council) select who the members will be.”
Rural dweller Jenny Boyne said three rural wards across the district “would be fair.”
“Rural voters are being short-changed around the council table … with little to no representation.”
Commissioners asked the appellants why a rural ward should be established given the “miniscule” number of submitters to the council’s representation review. Boyne said rural people had made “a huge amount of submissions over the last 20 years.
Very little feedback has been taken on board so people have become disengaged. This does not mean they don’t care.”
Council chief executive Janice Smith told the Commissioners that “while the rural community could be deemed to be farming, it also means lifestyle blocks, the coastal community, so (we have) quite a rich mix of rural communities in South Wairarapa.” It also involves the tourism sector.
Community consultation on the options had drawn 129 submiisions – just over one (1) percent of the population of South Wairarapa. “Councillors … didn’t feel there was enough of a mandate for change to a rural ward but were quite open to continuing discussions around a{n} (rural and coastal) advisory group.”
“This would allow the council to pick up all of the rural areas, not just the farming sector … and would align with our neighbours Carterton and Masterton – who also have rural advisory groups.” Thus, based on community feedback and low submission levels, the council had opted for a rural and coastal advisory group.
Mayor Martin Connelly said the council “was keen to look at alternatives” – partly “the reason” for including a Maori Ward vote for the coming elections – and part of the mix of asking about doing things better or differently. But it agreed there was not an appetite for change.
A Local Government Commission staff member told the hearing the issue in front of them came down to voting rights. Ward councillors have voting rights, an advisory board provides advice to councillors and officers on issues. “I think there is a really big concern from the appellant that having … advisory group representation does not give that seat at the table that would come with having a dedicated rural ward.”
A decision on the appeal is expected before mid-April.
