View objections and counter-objections

Objection

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Mr Aaron Tangaroa

Aaron Tangaroa
[Home address redacted]

Subject: Submission Opposing the Inclusion of Newlands in Hutt South

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to formally oppose the proposed change to move Newlands from its current electorate into Hutt South. This adjustment is not in the best interests of the residents of Newlands or the communities affected by this boundary shift. Below are my key arguments against this proposal:

1. Community Disconnection
Newlands has long been closely aligned with Wellington’s northern suburbs rather than the Hutt Valley. This realignment severs important social, economic, and historical ties with neighbouring suburbs such as Johnsonville, Churton Park, and Ngaio, instead forcing it into an electorate with which it has little in common. Residents rely on Wellington-based services, businesses, and transport links rather than those in Hutt South.

2. Lack of Transport and Infrastructure Links
There are no direct transport links between Newlands and the Hutt Valley, making the realignment impractical. Public transport routes, including bus and train networks, predominantly connect Newlands to Wellington City and other northern suburbs, not to Lower Hutt. This will result in an electorate where residents feel politically disconnected from their representative and neighbouring communities.

3. Disruption to Representation
Newlands residents share concerns, needs, and priorities that align more with Wellington issues than those of Hutt South. This shift will result in an MP representing a constituency with disparate concerns, potentially diluting the focus on pressing issues specific to Newlands. The proposed change risks reducing effective representation for Newlands residents.

4. Inconsistency with Natural Boundaries
The proposed change disregards logical geographic boundaries. The natural divide between Newlands and the Hutt Valley, including the topographical separation created by hills and road networks, makes it unreasonable to lump these areas together into one electorate. Electorate boundaries should reflect natural communities rather than forced numerical adjustments.

5. Negative Impact on Local Engagement
Shifting Newlands into Hutt South may discourage political engagement. Residents who feel disconnected from their electorate are less likely to participate in elections and civic activities, reducing overall voter turnout and community involvement. It is crucial that electorate boundaries encourage engagement rather than alienate voters.

6. Shared Services and Redundant Facilities
Newlands shares key recreational and public services with Johnsonville, including sports facilities, parks, and community centres. The proposed boundary change could result in duplication of services without an increase in demand, leading to inefficient use of public funds. Newlands residents predominantly use amenities such as Alex Moore Park and Keith Spry Pool in Johnsonville, which are well-integrated into the community’s daily life. Shifting Newlands into Hutt South creates the risk of redundant or underutilised facilities, potentially leading to reduced investment in existing services or a loss of economic and social benefits for both communities.

7. Lack of Meaningful Justification
The rationale for this boundary change appears to be based purely on population balancing rather than genuine community representation. There has been little consultation with affected residents, and the broader implications of this shift have not been adequately considered. Electoral boundaries should be drawn with communities in mind, not just numerical targets.

Conclusion
For the reasons outlined above, I strongly oppose the proposal to move Newlands into Hutt South. This change disregards established community ties, disrupts effective representation, and weakens democratic engagement. I urge the Commission to reconsider this adjustment and maintain Newlands within an electorate that better reflects its natural connections and interests.
Thank you for considering this submission. I look forward to your response and to further engagement on this matter.

Yours sincerely,


Aaron Tangaroa

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Objection

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David Parker

Oswald Crescent in Newlands is in Newlands, in the heart or centre of Newlands, no where near Hutt South, cannot even see the Hutt from Oswald Crescent. We have nothing to do with the Hutt.
Newlands as a suburb is basically being split in half so who will represent the suburb? Do you just work from numbers to work out the boundary without taking into account things like large hills or motorways or completely disconnected groups. Hutt South has different issues to what Newlands has. Not even in the same local Council.
Regarding numbers, Woodridge is still growing and will do so for a few years. Did you factor that in.

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Objection

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Katherine Scapolo

I'm not sure on what planet Newlands and Woodridge are part of the Hutt! Our family lived in those suburbs for over 10 years and never considered ourselves part of the Hutt nor ever used the Hutt community for our needs, we have always used Johnsonville or Porirua. We now live in Paparangi so end up moving in to the Keneperu seat, which makes slightly more sense but still removes the focus on our more direct region. Our son now lives in Ngaio, and I'm unsure how Ngaio and the other suburbs mentioned become Wellington (except maybe Wadestown, which I've always considered 'town'), the rest are clearly suburbs not the CBD. We've always throught of those areas as being part of our region - although transport wise they are close to the CBD. I just can't see how suddently there aren't enough people in the area to justify our own seat (given the growth in Woodridge and Churton Park over the last 10+ years). My fear is nothing will ever happen in the Johnsonville hub with this change as you are effectively just dispursing us all so as a collective there is no ability to make an impact. How would Hutt South care about what happens in Newlands (and Woodridge) - you can't even commute easily to the Hutt! And why would Keneperu care about Johnsonville, they already have a shopping hub. Seems to me this just a way to shut down the needs of Ohariu once and for all. Others I've spoken to are saying we just won't vote because there is no point as where you're moving us all to is completley illogical . I'm not sure what your logic is or what the crtiera is that has suddenly moved the gate posts, as we sure as eggs haven't become smaller over the years!

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Objection

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Katrina Richmond

I object to Newlands being moved into Hutt South. There is no connection between the two areas. Newlands is a suburb of Wellington City, not Hutt City. Newlands residents will not get adequate representation from Hutt South MP.

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Objection

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Nathalie Leamy

Newlands, Johnsonville, Woodridge and Paparangi are close-knit, connected communities that share the same issues, problems and challenges. It makes absolutely no sense to split part of Newlands and incorporate it to Hutt South.

Woodridge does not even have a direct road connection to the Hutt! Under the proposed changes, Woodridge would become a forgotten outpost of Hutt South and I doubt their MP would have the same presence and/or advocate for them in the same way they would for the rest of the electorate. Quit the nonsense and leave Woodridge in Kenepuru.

Objection

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Meg Davies

Objection to Proposed Hutt South Electorate Boundary Including Half of Newlands and Woodridge

I strongly object to the proposed boundary change that places half of Newlands and Woodridge into the Hutt South electorate.

This change would split a cohesive and interconnected community, undermining the social and practical ties that bind Newlands and Woodridge. Our community shares schools, parks, shops, and social services. Dividing it down the middle creates confusion and weakens our ability to be represented effectively.

A particular concern is that this proposal divides school communities, leaving students from the same classrooms in different electorates. This not only fragments our community identity but also risks complicating representation and support for local schools, which rely on united advocacy from local MPs.

Even more troubling is that key community services—such as our local doctor and community centre—would be in one electorate, while many of the people who rely on them would be in another. This raises serious concerns about access to effective political advocacy. Why would the MP for Hutt South be expected to champion the needs of constituents who are not even part of their electorate, despite those constituents relying on services physically located within it? This arrangement risks leaving people without strong, accountable representation for services that directly affect their lives.

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Objection

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Leiani Blair

This split will affect schooling, GP services, community and so much more, no one will make an effort to include newlands in their decisions.
We don’t even have a direct road into the Hutt Valley.

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Objection

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Ms Tara-Lee Miller

I have lived in Newlands for 30 years.
Under the new proposal our suburb and neighbouring suburbs become part of Hutt South. People in my neighbourhood see themselves as part of the Newlands and Johnsonville communities and the wider northern suburbs community.
We live in Wellington city, not Hutt city.
Our local authority is the Wellington City Council, not the Hutt City Council.
We access healthcare from Wellington and Kenepuru hospitals, not Hutt Hospital.
We access Wellington libraries, not Hutt ones.
Our rates go towards Wellington City Council projects, not Hutt ones.
When asked to vote, I feel we have very little knowledge about the important issues facing Hutt South and to be honest what happens in Hutt South has no impact or bearing on us living all the way down the Hutt Road and up Ngauranga George.
There is no direct road linking us.
This proposal is a ridiculous one that is simply about the numbers and not about the practical workings of electorates.

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Objection

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Mrs Karla Fisher

I live in Newlands and under the new proposal our suburb and neighbouring suburbs become part of Hutt South.

People in my neighborhood see themselves as part of the Northern suburbs / Johnsonville community. We live in Wellington city, not Hutt city. On a map we may look close but our communities operate in separate ways. I have no idea what is happening in the Hutt and people there have no idea what is happening in Newlands.

When asked to vote, people representing this area would have very little to do with our part of the suburb.

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Objection

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Hannah Smith

Newlands should not be apart of Hutt South. While it is easy to look at a map and put them together, they are nowhere near close enough together to be considered apart of the same electorate.

Keep Ohariu electorate!!

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Objection

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Dr Matthew Lloyd

The proposed boundary change for Woodridge and the eastern part of Newlands separates these suburbs from existing community connections to the remainder of Newlands and the other northern suburbs. There is absolutely no community connection to the Hutt region, currently being represented by entirely separate councils. If Hutt South electorate was to become the proposed electorate this would significantly harm meaningful representation of residents in the Woodridge and east Newlands region given it would become a Wellington outpost of a Hutt council region. There would certainly be a significant impact in the residents access to schooling if the residents are to now sit within a Hutt council electorate.

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Objection

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Ms Nerys Foster

I am writing to oppose the proposed changes that would split the suburb of Newlands and move part of it into the Hutt South electorate.
Newlands is a cohesive and well-connected part of the Wellington Northern Suburbs. Residents share community facilities, transport links, schools, and services with neighbouring suburbs such as Johnsonville, Paparangi, and Grenada. The proposal to shift part of Newlands into the Hutt Valley—an area with which we have little daily connection—is not reflective of how our community actually functions.
From a practical standpoint, Newlands functions as a single, integrated suburb. Residents shop, work, go to school, and participate in local events together. Splitting it for electoral purposes would not reflect the social and geographic realities of the area.
Dividing Newlands between different electorates would undermine this sense of community and weaken the ability of residents to be effectively represented on matters that affect them as a whole.
The proposed split risks creating confusion among residents about their representation and diluting their collective voice in electoral matters. It would make community advocacy more difficult, as different parts of the suburb would be represented by different Members of Parliament, potentially leading to inconsistent support and representation. Thus, this change risks undermining effective representation for residents, who currently benefit from unified advocacy and engagement under one Member of Parliament.
Key reasons for opposing the proposed split include:
1. Community Integrity: Newlands has long been recognized as a single, integrated community. Dividing it would disrupt community cohesion and make it more difficult for residents to work together on local initiatives and concerns.
2. Local Services and Infrastructure: The suburb shares core infrastructure, schools, transport routes, and community services. These shared resources are best managed and advocated for under a single electorate.
3. Representation and Accessibility: A split would create confusion for constituents, who may not know which MP to approach for issues affecting the broader suburb. It may also dilute representation by weakening the collective voice of Newlands residents.
4. Precedent and Stability: Newlands has historically remained intact within electorate boundaries. Redrawing the lines in this way sets a concerning precedent and could invite further fragmentation of communities in the future.
I urge the Commission to reconsider the proposed boundary changes and to maintain Newlands within the single electorate of Kenepuru. This will ensure fair and coherent representation for the residents of our suburb and uphold the principle of keeping communities of interest intact.

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Objection

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P Herath

school zones will be so hard. We will not be able to travel to Hutt for school after primary.
Hutt council won't have a clue about northern suburbs and issues will pile up and the residents and the housing market will suffer!

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Objection

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Ellen Parkhouse

Newlands has been split into two - half is now in the Lower Hutt region. We want the one voice for the suburb - we’re already the unpopular suburb to invest in, so don’t need our voice divided further

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Objection

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Ms Gabriela Jimenez Rojas

I object to the suburb of Newlands being split between Hutt South and the new proposed electorate of Keneperu. I don't believe there is any value in arbitrarily separating a community as is proposed. With such a small area of Newlands being brought over to Hutt South, the views, input and needs of the community is likely to be lost amongst the more numerous members of the Lower Hutt community which is a perverse outcome and I dont believe this is the intent.

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