On Friday, council will commence its engagement with the community about the system that will be used to elect councillors at the next election. Details of the options will be posted on council's website on Friday.

Google: Tauranga City Have a Say. Three of the options are aligned with the previously used ward system, and one offers a new system that would see nine councillors elected to represent all of Tauranga.

Under the ward system, voters can only vote for the few councillors in their ward but under the new system they can vote for all nine.

At the same time, council will conduct a survey to find out if people want community boards. The boards would be led by locally-elected members who would have legal power to conduct forums and advocate for the needs and preferences of their local area.

Boards are funded by the council, but they are not expensive. Across New Zealand the yearly cost of boards is no more than $4.50 per head of population, and in many cases less than half that sum. If boards get the go ahead, they will start operating next year.

Tell the council you want community boards so that you can have your say at the local level.

Barry Scott, Pāpāmoa Beach.