Ward changes now set for next Council election

Four wards and First Past the Post proposals unchallenged.

Next year's local authority elections will go ahead with a four-ward structure after the final appeal date passed with no appeals or objections last week.

The original submissions closed on Friday 29 May and resulted in the Coromandel Peninsula East ward being split into two. For next year's election, the four wards will be Thames, Coromandel-Colville, Mercury Bay and South Eastern (including Tairua, Pauanui and Whangamata).

In addition, the electoral system will return to First Past the Post.

The total number of councillors will remain the same at eight in addition to a District Mayor but the number of councillors appointed to the five community boards will change.

Three councillors will continue to be appointed to Thames community board and one to the Coromandel-Colville community board but the Mercury Bay, Tairua-Pauanui and Whangamata community boards will each have two councillors appointed.