The Representation Review Process

The last review was undertaken in 2018, and therefore Council is required to undertake a review in 2024 for at least the 2025 triennial elections. This Initial Proposal presents the proposed arrangements for at least the next three years.

On Thursday 12 September 2024, submitters will have the opportunity to present their views in support of their written submission to Council in person at the hearing.

Councillors will consider these verbal submissions, along with the feedback received from the written submissions to decide a Final Proposal.

The Final Proposal is then advertised for appeals and objections. Where there are no appeals or objections, the proposal will then apply until the next representation review.

If the Final Proposal receives objections or appeals, these will be referred to the Local Government Commission, and a final determination will be made.

What stage are we at in the Representation Review?

Click 'see more' to expand the timeline and see what we have completed so far, and where we are heading.

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Early Feedback

    Until 2 June 2024.

    We are asking for your feedback to help shape potential options.

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Adopt initial proposal

    26 July 2024

    Council meeting to adopt initial proposal.

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Public submissions

    9am, 1 August – 5pm, 2 September 2024

    Submission period on Initial Proposal. Have your say.

  • Timeline item 4 - active

    Hearings

    12 September 2024.

    Hearing for submitters to talk to Council.

  • Timeline item 5 - incomplete

    Council adopts the Final Proposal

    24 October 2024

    Council meeting to adopt the Final Proposal.

  • Timeline item 6 - incomplete

    Appeal/objection period

    28 October – 28 November 2024

    One month for the appeal/objection period

  • Timeline item 7 - incomplete

    LGC determination (if required)

    If required, determination by the Local Government Commission.

    By 10 April 2025.

What do we need to consider?

The three principles of the review:

Expand each principle below to learn more.

To achieve effective representation, wards should be based on communities of interest - that means areas that people identify with and relate to.

The legislation doesn’t define what a community of interest is, but describes a concept that includes:

  • people feeling a sense of identity and belonging to an area and influenced by geographic features;
  • people having access to the same goods, services and facilities, like schools, swimming pools or roading networks;
  • rohe or takiwa of local iwi and hapu may also be a factor.

Once the communities of interest have been defined by geographical boundaries, how these communities will be most effectively represented must be considered.

Effective representation considers factors like the number of councillors in relation to the size and geography of the area, and the diversity of its people.

  • Can communities of interest be grouped together to achieve effective representation?
  • How many councillors would provide effective representation to a ward, and should there also be a community board?
  • How easily accessible are the councillors to their community, and how well can they represent the people and minterests of the area?
  • Is effective representation best achieved by an at large system, a ward system, or a mixed system?

When reviewing our representation, we have to take into account the number of residents each councillor represents. This is called a ‘population-member ratio’ or the ‘+/- 10% rule’. This rule helps us to consider whether our proposed representation arrangements provide for fair representation.

To calculate this, we take the total district population and divide it by the number of councillors (excluding the mayor). The number of councillors per ward cannot be 10% higher or lower than this ratio.

When reviewing our representation arrangements we identify:


  • The total number of elected members for our district,
  • Their basis of election, whether ‘at large’, by ward, or a combination of both,
  • How many wards in the district, ward names and their boundaries, and how many councillors are elected from each ward, and
  • Whether there should be community boards and, if so, how the community boards are structured, their boundaries and names, and whether they are subdivided for electoral purposes.

The process so far

Council has reached this stage in the Representation Review process by taking the following steps: