Online submissions a winner for Representation Review

More than 90 per cent of submitters to Hamilton City Council’s Representation Review shared their views online, boosting the number of submissions to a level not seen in two decades.

Submissions to Council’s Representation Review closed on Monday, 13 August, after a month-long submission period. Council is proposing a change to the way its community is represented, with a reduction to 10 Councillors plus the Mayor, and the abandonment of the East and West Wards in favour of citywide voting.

Electoral Officer Anthony Dick says more than 60 submissions have been received, with 51 made through Council’s hamilton.co.nz/haveyoursay internet site.

“This demonstrates just how well the public have responded to the online option – an easier, smart and speedy way to communicate with Council. It has delivered the highest number of submissions to a Representation Review in the last 18 years,” Mr Dick says.

The submissions will be analysed over the next month before being presented to the Mayor and Councillors for discussion at an Extraordinary Council meeting before the end of September.

By 24 September, Council must advise the public of either confirmation of the proposed representation arrangements, or changes to be made to the proposal.