The preliminary options

Council considered several options to realign constituencies to make our representation fair, while also considering which communities share similarities.

We tested three options with the community in May and asked for feedback.

• Option one - Retain the status quo (with Christchurch City/Ōtautahi constituency realignment)
  This option kept the North Canterbury/Ōpukepuke, Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi and South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi constituencies the same and only made minor changes to our four Christchurch/Ōtautahi constituency boundaries, to align with the new Christchurch City ward boundaries.
  The number of elected representatives for each constituency remained the same, two for each.
• Option two - Merge Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi and South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi constituencies
  Combine the Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi and South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi constituencies to create one much larger constituency.
  This constituency was represented by four Councillors.
• Option three - Create a new constituency combining Ashburton District and the current South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi constituency

Combine the Ashburton District with the South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi constituency, leaving Selwyn/Waikirikiri (currently in the Mid Canterbury/Ōpākihi constituency) as a constituency on its own.

In this option, the two constituencies are represented by two elected councillors each.

All options included realigning the Christchurch city constituency boundaries to match the current Christchurch City Council ward boundaries.

Feedback showed that Option Three was narrowly preferred. Of those within the areas most affected by the proposed changes, Option One was narrowly preferred.

Download the full results of the feedback.