New Plymouth voters will vote for the next district council using the STV system of voting.

New Plymouth voters will rank their favourite council candidates in the 2019 and 2022 district council elections rather than just ticking boxes.

On Tuesday night the New Plymouth District Council decided to scrap the current First Past the Post method of voting in favour of the Single Transferable Vote (STV), which is used by the Taranaki District Health Board.

The council's Te Huinga Taumatua and planning committees recommended the council have a binding referendum, costing at least $80,000, to let ratepayers decide on whether it wanted to change.

But at their full meeting, councillors decided to make the decision themselves.

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Mayor Neil Holdom, who had been keen on the referendum idea, changed his mind after talking to people in the community, he said.

"They have said 'you're going to spend $80,000 on that?' People want us to go out there and engage and see their thoughts manifested through the council."

In its simplest form, STV is described by the Department of Internal Affairs as allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Candidates need to reach a quota of the votes to get elected.

Councillors had a robust discussion on the issue, with a lot talk around whether the community would understand STV.

Councillor Harry Duynhoven put that to rest by pointing out STV was used across the ditch.

"If Australians can understand it I'm sure we can. It's not difficult."

Deputy mayor Richard Jordan said he wasn't an expert, but could read what experts said.

"STV is the most democratic system for electing councils. I have trouble when people say it is difficult to understand. If you can count to 10 you can understand STV."

People elected councillors to make decisions, he said.

But councillor Mike Merrick said democracy was expensive.

"We are going to have to fork out $80,000. There is nothing more important than democracy. We should let the people choose."

Councillor Stacey Hitchcock said she didn't think it was a huge enough issue to spend $80,000 of hard earned ratepayers money on a referendum.

Councillor Richard Handley said the issue was serious and important and the council should have the courage to have a poll.

"I feel very strongly such a fundamental change should be supported by the community."

At the beginning of the meeting former councillor Len Houwers and council critic Peter Barker spoke to the council encouraging councillors to vote for STV.

STV was more democratic than FPP and had been used by District Health Boards since 2004, Houwers said.

The men had done a survey on Neighbourly, which had 131 respondents, 70 per cent of whom wanted STV.

"Just do the right thing. The evidence is clear – it is a healthier outcome for democracy."