The following media release comes from the Local Government Commission.
The Local Government Commission will hear appeals against the Whakatāne District Council’s representation review proposal on Tuesday, 15 March in the Council Chambers, Commerce Street, Whakatāne commencing at 1 pm.
The Council has proposed the retention of a council comprising a mayor and 10 councillors elected from the current four wards. In addition, it proposes the retention of the three rural community boards (Murupara, Rangitāiki and Tāneatua) but to combine the Whakatāne and Ōhope Beach community boards.
Five appeals against the proposal to combine the two community boards have been received, and all the appellants wish to be heard by the Commission.
The hearing will be open to the public and the media.
The Commissioners hearing the appeals will be:
- Commissioner Janie Annear (Hearing Chair)
- Temporary Commissioner Pauline Kingi
- Temporary Commissioner Leith Comer