For the past year, the Clutha District Council has been reviewing how it can best represent our communities in the makeup of Council. Your feedback will help councillors shape our wards and community boards.
We are currently in the final proposal stage. This was adopted by Council on 23 October 2024. The appeal period is now underway, with those who made submissions to the initial proposal being able lodge an appeal.
Every six years councils review how well people and communities are represented.
A representation review addresses the total number of elected members at the Council table and on communitiy boards, and the way they are elected in the local elections every three years, to ensure councils retain effective and fair representation for the community.
The Clutha District Council last undertook a representation review in 2018 in preparation for the 2019 elections.
You can learn more about representation reviews on the Local Government Commission website.
Currently, we have 15 elected members, being:
Please see the map (on right) for ward areas.
Click to enlarge
The table below shows how many councillors represent each ward within our district, as well as a breakdown of ration to population per councillor.
| Ward | Population | Councillors | Population/ Councillor ratio | Difference from quota | % Difference from quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balclutha Ward | 5,220 | 4 | 1305 | -44 | -3.28% |
| Bruce Ward | 4,720 | 3 | 1573 | 224 | 16.60% |
| Catlins Ward | 1,400 | 1 | 1,400 | 51 | 3.76% |
| Clinton Ward | 1,350 | 1 | 1,350 | 1 | 0.05% |
| Clutha Valley Ward | 1,400 | 1 | 1,400 | 51 | 3.76% |
| Kaitangata-Matau Ward | 1,170 | 1 | 1,170 | -179 | -13.29% |
| Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward | 1,230 | 1 | 1,230 | -119 | -8.84% |
| West Otago Ward | 2,400 | 2 | 1,200 | -149 | -11.06% |
| Total | 18,890 | 14 | 1,349* |
* In accordance with the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each councillor represents must be within the range of 1,349 plus or minus 10% (1,214-1,484). Bruce Ward, West Otago Ward and Kaitangata-Matau Ward do not comply with this rule.
Our two community boards are represented by 6 elected members each.
| Community Board | Population | Members |
|---|---|---|
| West Otago Community Board | 1,230 | 6 |
| Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board | 2,400 | 6 |
Representation reviews are completed every 6 years to ensure fair and effective representation for individuals and communities.
The representation review cannot change the people who are currently elected, but it may increase or decrease the number of councillors elected in the next local elections.
Fair representation means each elected member represents about the same number of people (within +/- 10 percent of the district's population divided by the total number of Councillors). This ensures an equal representation across the district.
Effective representation relates to the Councillors’ ability to represent their constituency and ensure matters important to their electorate are heard.
For the past year we have been talking to our community about the electoral process, with elected members voting to:
The representation review is the third and final step of the process required before the 2025 elections.
We have conducted the preliminary consultation and received 58 submissions from the community during period. Click here for a summary of the general feedback received.
Council has adopted a final proposal which sets out our preference for representation arrangements.
The appeal/objection period is from Monday, 28 October 2024 until November 28.
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Phone | 0800 801 350 |
|---|---|
| Website | www.cluthadc.govt.nz/ |
| In writing | 1 ROSEBANK TER BALCLUTHA 9230 NEW ZEALAND |
