REPLACING FPP WITH STV

Reynold Neighbourly Lead from Hillcrest - Pomare

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