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 helped councillors shape our wards and community boards.

Basis of Election for 2025 Local Elections

On 28 October 2024, Clutha District Council gave public notice of its final proposal for representation arrangements to apply for the Council for the elections to be held on 11 October 2025. Notification of the right to appeal was also given. No valid appeals were received in respect of the resolution, therefore the representation arrangements for Clutha District Council’s 2025 local elections will be the same as in the final proposal:

Council representation

The Clutha District Council to comprise the mayor elected ‘at large’ and nine councillors elected from eight wards, these being:

• Balclutha Ward (two councillors), comprising the urban area of Balclutha township
• Bruce-Waihola Ward (one councillor), comprising rural areas north of Milton township, including Taieri Mouth, Waihola, and Milburn
• Catlins Ward (one councillor), comprising the area from the southern Koau branch of the Clutha River Mata-Au, and including the rural areas of Paretai, Otanomomo and Romahapa, through to the southern coastline to the Otago and Southland regional border, and the Awatea and Slopedown areas
• Clinton-Clydevale Ward (one councillor), comprising the inland rural area around Clinton (noting the addition to the existing Clinton Ward of Te Houka, Clifton, Clydevale and Rongahere, along with the Waipahi area along the northern boundary)
• Kaitangata-Matau Ward (one councillor), comprising the urban areas of Kaitangata, and including the urban and rural areas of Stirling, Benhar, Lovells Flat, Moneymore, Toko Mouth (from Koau Branch of the Clutha River on Inch Clutha)
• Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward (one councillor), comprising the urban area of Lawrence, and rural areas to include the south and southwest areas of Pukeawa, Hillend, Awamangu, Adams Flat and Crichton
• Milton Ward (one councillor), comprising the urban area of Milton township
• West Otago Ward (one councillor), comprising the key areas around West Otago, including Tapanui and Heriot (noting some areas have been moved south into the Clinton-Clydevale Ward)

The eight wards, the number of councillors per ward, the ward populations (estimated at 30 June 2023) and the population ratio per councillor are as follows:

*population estimates as of 30 June 2023

In accordance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each ward councillor represents must be within the population range of 2,098 +/- 10% (1,888 – 2,308).

Community board representation

Two community boards will be elected. The two community boards will be:

• Lawrence-Tuapeka Community Board (six members elected from the community at large, plus one councillor representing the Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward as appointed by Council), comprising the existing Lawrence-Tuapeka ward area as delineated on Plan LG072-2019-W-2 deposited with the Local Government Commission
• West Otago Community Board (six members elected from the community at large, plus one councillor representing the West Otago Ward as appointed by Council) comprising the existing West Otago ward area as delineated on Plan LG-0722013-W-1 deposited with the Local Government Commission

Any queries regarding the Council’s decision should be directed to: Clutha District Council, PO Box 25, Balclutha 9240 or help.desk@cluthadc.govt.nz.

What is the Representation Review?

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.

What does the representation review process involve?

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.

Representation Review submissions, hearing and decision

Council received 26 submissions to its initial proposal. Click on the below links to read the submissions and the hearing agenda or watch the hearings on Council's YouTube channel.