Tauranga city council's current system of city council ward seats will remain for the 2016 local body elections, says the Local Government Commission.

The decision is in response to an appeal against the current number of wards by Mount Maunganui resident Rob Paterson.

City council wards remain the same for the next council election.

The current set up – a Mayor and 10 councillors, with 4 elected at large from the city as a whole and 6 elected from 3 wards will be retained. It was introduced by the commission in 2010, says Rob.

'Rotorua is all at large still and that's quite strange,” says Rob. 'When they wanted wards they got at large, and we wanted at large and got wards.”

He wants a seven-three split with one ward councillor for each ward.

'I just don't think the average person round here is getting enough representation. Instead of six votes it should be eight votes then you would be getting better representation. You would still be getting one in each ward which I think is sufficient to deal with it.

'When they do consider this, they have six ward members and four at large, the six ward members you have to regard as turkeys – and they are not going to vote for Christmas, because one of them is going to go, aren't they. It's the old story they are not going to vote to get rid of themselves.”

There were fewer wards before 2010, says Rob.

Minority groups have more chances of getting voted onto the city council where there are more at large seats. With seven seats at large there's a great possibility of Maori being voted onto the council, says Rob.

'There's no chance under this present system and that's why you get all this bitching about unelected people on council or race based wards,” says Rob.

'You could put up candidates who would have no show under the present system. If you block vote you might get a representative.”

He's also disappointed the ward boundaries remain the same with The Lakes in the Otumoetai/Pyes Pa ward.

'I thought they would definitely have changed the boundaries because it's not too hard to do at all. The Lakes and Pyes Pa would go into Welcome Bay, and you would pull the avenues back into Matua Otumoetai to suit. There's a more natural association with Matua than with welcome bay. You can't tell me people in Matua out have any community of interest with those of Pyes Pa.”

The Local Government Commission decision can be challenged in the High court but only on a question of law.

In a statement the commission says that after hearing from the Council and the appellant the Commission has decided to uphold the Council's proposal.

The Council's representation arrangements for the 2016 local elections will therefore be:

• A Mayor and 10 councillors
• 4 councillors elected from the City as a whole
• 6 councillors elected from wards as follows:

Mount Maunganui-Papamoa Ward 2 councillors

Otumoetai-Bethlehem Ward 2 councillors

Te Papa-Welcome Bay Ward 2 councillors

The determination is available on the Commission's website.