Mount Maunganui and Papamoa residents are protesting the council recommendation that will see the abolition of ward councillors.

Of 35 submissions received by the Tauranga City Council on the representation review process, 32 are Mount or Papamoa residents opposing the council's recommendation to have only at-large voting in the next city council election.
Their concerns about their community of interest range from the philosophical to the parochial.
Hugh Hughes spoke about democracy having to be nurtured and grown through a community of interest. Alan Goodhall said the Tauranga City Council has no mandate for change from the electorate.
'The local government commission's previous decision following the review of 2003 determined that the Mount and Papamoa have a local community of interest,” says Alan.
The submitters also argued that having ward councillors gave people readier access to the democratic process.
The councillors argued the at large voting was fairer. With ward voting the electorate could vote for only a handful of the candidates in any election.
'You should have the opportunity to vote for everybody who sets the taxes,” says Bill Faulkner.
The council stuck with its recommendation with Councillors Murray Guy, Rick Curach, Wayne Moultrie, and Mayor Stuart Crosby voting to keep the wards.
The present system was imposed on the council by the Local Government Commission – overturning a previous council's recommendation to retain the ward system imposed in 1989.
Objectors have a month to lodge written appeals. The appeals or objections are forwarded to the Local Government Commission, which is required to make its final ruling before April 11, 2010.