Reasons for Proposed Boundaries

General Reasons – South Island

The Commission adopted the preference of the previous Commission that the Southern Alps provide the most significant natural barrier and thus have a strong influence on the shape and extent of electoral boundaries in the South Island. The population of the West Coast – Tasman electorate has continued to decline relative to the quota requirement while the population of Nelson is increasing. The Commission proposes moving the northern boundary of West Coast-Tasman towards Brightwater. It proposes no change to the Kaikoura Electorate.

As was the case for the previous Commission, all 7 electorates from Rakaia south have declined in population relative to quota requirements. This Commission has had to face significant changes to the electorates to meet the quota requirement. This has meant a progressive northward movement of boundaries from Invercargill. The Commission has found that the population south of the Rakaia river and west of the Southern Alps is sufficient to create 6 electorates that are on average slightly over the quota and thereby accommodate projections for the future.

The boundaries of the Invercargill electorate move both east and west along the southern coast. The population of Queenstown, Arrowtown and the Roxburgh Ward have been moved into Clutha-Southland from Otago. As a consequence, the boundary of Otago has moved northwards to Fairlie and Geraldine. It includes a significant portion of the existing Aoraki electorate. Accordingly, the Commission has renamed the proposed electorate Waitaki.

The southern boundary of Dunedin South has moved to coincide with the Dunedin City boundary along the Taieri River. The Commission has met the quota requirement for Dunedin North by moving the northern boundary to include Palmerston and its surrounding area.

The balance of the Aoraki electorate moves to a new electorate centred on Ashburton and includes Temuka and Timaru. The area north of Ashburton up to the Rakaia River is included. The Commission proposes to name this electorate Rangitata.

In the Canterbury area, the transfer of a major part of Rakaia to Rangitata has resulted in a population deficit in the South and a surplus of population in the North. The Commission has achieved balance by absorbing the excess population in Waimakariri electorate into remaining suburban Christchurch electorates. There are consequential changes to the boundaries of Christchurch East, Christchurch Central, Banks Peninsula, and Wigram. The Commission has not altered the boundaries of Ilam.

The proposed Selwyn electorate comprises a portion of the Waimakariri electorate around Bishopdale, parts of the Banks Peninsula electorate around Oaklands and Halswell and that part of the old Rakaia electorate north of the Rakaia River.

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