ECan agrees on new boundaries for Canterbury – for now

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Environment Canterbury (ECan) has adopted its revised representation review proposal after earlier agreeing to U-turn on plans to shift Ashburton's boundary.

But ECan chairperson Crag Pauling signalled the work isn’t finished at a council meeting on Wednesday.

The review sets the constituency boundaries for the upcoming elections in 2025, but it has been recommended a full review take place before the 2028 elections.

Pauling backed the process the regional council had been through, but said "the process isn’t finished”.

The regional council’s decision is open to appeals before the Local Government Commission makes a final decision in April.

But the council’s decision also suggested it would be up to the next council to complete.

An earlier plan to revise boundary lines sparked protest from Ashburton's mayor who argued it would not provide effective representation for Ashburton District or rural communities.

ECan subsequently reversed the plan and decided to retain the status quo, aside from some boundary changes in Christchurch. It will recommend the next council undertakes a comprehensive representation review in three years.

It means the Ashburton District remains part of the Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi constituency with the Selwyn District, rather than being merged with South Canterbury.

Christchurch Central/Ōhoko councillors Genevieve Robinson and Greg Byrnes, and Christchurch South/Ōwhanga Paul Dietsche voted against its adoption.

Robinson and Byrnes were aggrieved at losing 360,000 constituents in the Christchurch boundary changes that they felt weren’t consulted on.

Byrnes called it a gerrymander – “the manipulation of an electoral constituency boundary so as to favour one over another”.

Each councillor has one vote, but several councillors "represent far less numbers than others”.

He said he was appalled with the review outcome.

“You accept the unacceptable gerrymander in South Canterbury, while at the same time give a two-finger salute to the ratepayers and council of New Zealand's fastest-growing district.”

Robinson said the outcome undermined the process.

“What is the point of people coming forward and voting or giving opinion on something if the result is this?

“It’s not at all what people spoke about or submitted on.”

Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi councillor John Sunckell said he was comfortable with retaining the status quo.

While there had been a strong push from the Selwyn District to become a stand-alone constituency, the challenges of having two people representing all of South Canterbury, with South Canterbury starting at the Rakaia River, “just was not tenable”.

Christchurch South/Ōwhanga councillor Vicky Southworth said she was swayed to the status quo as she was opposed to having just two representatives for 50% of Canterbury’s land area.

“Regional council is around natural resource management.

“That rural understanding and ability to connect with your councillor is actually really important.”

Addressing future representation around Selwyn’s continued growth will require some serious thinking,she said.

Deputy chairperson Deon Swiggs said it had been a full-on process and “you can never please everybody”.