Independent views By Brendan Horan

The new electoral boundaries have been proposed and are out for public consultation. MP's were able to submit their views some time ago and I took the opportunity to share what I perceived as a common-sense outcome for our region.

I suggested that one Electorate could be established to include the Tauranga CBD, Otumoetai, Greerton and Parkvale, Pyes Pa and Bethlehem west to the Kaimais and north to Omokoroa. I submitted the names Matakana or Tauranga-Moana as appropriate to this area.

The second electorate I suggested could have been established to include Mt Maunganui, the area of Hairini and Welcome Bay, then south-east to Te puke, Maketu and Paengaroa.

I'm disappointed that the commission have taken an almost opposite view.

The Tauranga electorate they propose comprises Tauranga City, including Mt Maunganui and Omanu Beach and extends southwest to include Tauriko. The Bay of Plenty electorate encompasses Papamoa to Girvan road then splits and wraps around the Tauranga electorate to include Omokoroa.

The Rotorua electorate previously based on the communities of Rotorua and Murupara now steals Te Puke. Paengeroa, which although much closer to Rotorua than Te Puke, has been placed into the East Coast Electorate is to be served from Gisborne. This decision I believe flies in the face of common-sense and must surely diminish democracy for Te Puke, now to be served from Rotorua. Te Puke's community of interest is Tauranga and the Western BOP; Voters most likely have little knowledge of the Rotorua MP's and are most unlikely to be well- served from an office in Rotorua.

For more evidence of a departure from sound reason, the East Coast electorate now includes the community of Maketu. Maketu is a long way from Gisborne and has little community of interest with that region. I would hope that the residents of the Te Puke and Maketu districts submit their discontent ‘on mass' to the commission.

There is little wonder that people become disinterested in voting. Political boundaries today have little resemblance to geographic realities, industry, business and social, sporting and cultural interests. Once again Tauranga and the wider Bay of Plenty are treated like second cousins to the rest of New Zealand almost as if we are irrelevant. Perhaps our two National Ministers: Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall could do more in the way of standing up for our region.

I implore residents to make their concerns heard prior to the closing date of December 23. All submissions to be addressed to: Representation Commission PO Box 3220 Wellington 6140 or email: representation.commission@elections.govt.nz