REPLACING FPP WITH STV
Council referred the option of replacing First-Past-the-Post (FPP) voting with Single-Transferable-Vote (STV) to the Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee. Te Tatau o Te Arawa, Lakes Community Board, Rural Community Board and the public can now provide input before Council makes its final decision by 12 September.
FPP, where voters tick candidates, is familiar and more easily understood. But it is more likely than STV to lead to councils that do not have the support of the majority in the community. It is also more likely that greater numbers of voters will not have representation.
STV, where voters rank candidates 1, 2, 3 …, transfers votes for the least preferred candidates until all places are filled. STV is fairer because outcomes are more representative of voters’ preferences. Voters don’t need to know how preferences are allocated to get this benefit.
DHBs are required by law to use STV. Where local councils switch from FPP to STV the number of invalid votes drops from about 9 to 1.5 per cent. There will be fewer wasted votes if Council adopts STV and those elected will be more likely to have the support of a majority of voters.
I urge residents and ratepayers, and our policy advisory boards, to advise Council that STV is better able to deliver fairer representation, reflect the distinctive nature of our community, and to elect candidates that best represent our interests.
REYNOLD MACPHERSON
Rotorua
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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3.7% Second half of November
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41.1% 1st December
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17.1% A week before Christmas
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36.9% Whenever you wish
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
Riddle Me This, Neighbours! Bet You Can’t Guess It!
Sometimes narrow, sometimes wide, wind or rain, I stay outside.
Even if there’s heat or snow, from house to house I will still go.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
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Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
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85.3% Yes
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13.7% No
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1% Other - I'll share below