The Ruapehu District Council is proposing to chop its number of elected councillors from 11 to eight but bump up community board representatives from eight to 16.

Mayor Don Cameron related the suggestions contained in a council “initial representation proposal” to the number of Māori ward councillors and their proportion of the council.

The council voted last year to introduce Māori wards.

They, along with the other six general ward representatives and mayor, would be elected at large using the single transferable vote system.

Cameron said the representation review was significant due to the introduction of Māori wards and larger sector changes impacting on local government.

“The thinking is that a smaller council focused on governance and strategic issues supported by community boards focused on operational issues will provide better representation, decision-making and outcomes.”

Expanding the number and role of community boards would provide a better connection to communities of interest, he said.

If implemented, the changes would see ward-based community boards established for Ohura Ngapuke Rural, Taumarunui Urban, National Park (including Owhango) and Waimarino-Waiouru, each with four community representatives.

The council will seek to confirm them on August 25, following feedback from several hui – one featuring its two current community boards, and two special hui on Māori wards at Raetihi Marae on August 11, and Taumarunui’s Morero Marae on August 12.

The proposal will then be consulted on from September 7 to October 8.

The council has scheduled community hui throughout September and must release a “final representation proposal” within six weeks of consultation closing.

People could object to the proposal only if they made an initial submission or if the council changed it, Cameron said.

Any valid objections to the final proposal would then be considered by the Local Government Commission.

The Ruapehu District Council is currently made up of the mayor plus 11 councillors elected from four wards – Taumarunui (5), National Park (1), Ohura (1), and Waimarino-Waiouru (4).

A Taumarunui/Ohura ward committee comprises the five respective councillors, while the National Park community board is the ward councillor plus four elected community representatives and the Waimarino-Waiouru community board is two councillors plus four community representatives.

Credit: Stuff.co.nz