The consultation period for the Representation Review has now closed.
A representation review examines the arrangements for electing representatives during local elections. It considers things like how many councillors are required to represent the district, geographical boundaries and names of wards, and if community boards should be established or retained.
The Local Electoral Act 2001 (LEA) requires all local authorities to undertake a representation arrangement review at least once every six years. Our last review was undertaken in 2021 (for the 2022 local government elections). The next review would normally occur in 2027, however, as Council disestablished its Māori ward on 7 August 2024 under the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024, a shortened representation review is required to be undertaken in 2024. A shortened representation review must follow the same steps as a normal representation review but in a much shorter space of time.
Any agreed changes will be put in place for at least the 2025 triennial elections. You can read more about the Representation Review and the Initial Proposal in our information booklet.
How can I have my say?
The submission period closed on 2 October 2024.
Representation review key dates
| Council meeting to adopt initial proposal | 4 September 2024 |
| Submission period on initial proposal | 10 September – 2 October 2024 |
| Hearing/s for submitters to talk to Council | 9 October 2024 |
| Deliberations on submissions and council resolution for final proposal | 16 October 2024 |
| Appeal/objection period | 5 November – 26 November 2024 |
| Local Government Commission determination (if required) | by 23 December 2024 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being proposed?
The arrangements in the Initial Proposal see a mayor elected at-large, and eight councillors elected from three wards. These wards are the Kaiwaka-Mangawhai ward, with three councillors; Otamatea ward, with two councillors; and Wairoa ward, with three councillors. The proposed arrangements include minor boundary adjustments, including transferring a small area of what is currently within the Wairoa ward to the Otamatea ward.
Kaipara District Council initial proposal wards
Kaipara District Council initial proposal boundary change close up
Kaipara District Council Initial proposal wards, number of councillors per ward, ward populations
(estimates as of 30 June 2023) and the population ratio per ward councillor
| Ward | Population | Councillors | Ratio | Difference |
| Kaiwaka-Mangawhai Ward | 10,050 | 3 | 3,350 | -1.58% |
| Otamatea Ward | 6,180 | 2 | 3.090 | -9.22% |
| Wairoa Ward | 11,000 | 3 | 3.667 | -7.72% |
| Total | 27,230 | 8 | 3,404 |
What can or cannot be considered through this process?
What cannot be considered through this process?
- Māori wards - Council resolved to disestablish its Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward. The decision comes into effect for the 2025 local government elections and will apply until 2031.
- The type of elections we have (Council agreed on 26 July 2023 to First Past the Post (FFP) electoral system for the 2025 and 2028 Local Government elections.)
What can be considered through this process?
- Ward locations and boundaries
- Number of councillors
- Names of wards
What's the current situation?
At present, The Kaipara District has one mayor who is elected at large. Eight councillors are elected from four wards, Wairoa (3), Otamatea (2), Kaiwaka-Mangawhai (3) and Te Moananui o Kaipara Māori ward (1), with no community boards.
What is fair representation, effective representation and communities of interest?
What is fair representation?
Fair representation is about each councillor representing an approximately equal number of people – this helps ensure that all votes are of approximately equal value. After the Council has identified proposed wards, the LEA requires that each councillor must represent approximately the same number of people, plus or minus 10%.
What is effective representation?
Effective representation considers the number of councillors in relation to things like the size and geography of the area and the diversity of its people. Some examples include ease of access to your local councillors and how well they are able to represent the diverse range of people and interests in their area.
What are communities of interest?
Council must ensure that the election of councillors provides effective representation of the various communities that make up the Kaipara District. Giving proper consideration to defining communities of interest is therefore a key part of the representation review process.
However, the term “community of interest” is not defined in legislation (the Local Electoral Act 2001 (LEA). In reality, “communities of interest” can mean different things to different people and it can (and probably has) changed over time.
How do changes to how I'm represented affect my rates?
Remuneration for elected members (mayor and councillors) is based on a fixed pool of funds which is set independently by the Remuneration Authority (RA). This amount does not go up or down in relation to the number of councillors. It also means that any change in the number of councillors would not affect the total amount paid to councillors overall, as the total is divided between the number of elected members.
Elected members expenses are not paid from the pool. This includes things like vehicle kilometre allowance, travel time allowance, and hearing fees.
How many elected members can we have?
At least five but no more than 29 plus the mayor. We currently have nine councillors plus the mayor.
Each elected member should represent roughly the same number of people – this helps ensure that all votes are of approximately equal value.
The population of each ward, divided by the number of members to be elected by their ward, must produce a figure no more than 10% greater or smaller than the population of the district, divided by the total of elected members.
What electoral system does Kaipara District Council use?
At the council meeting 26 July 2023 council agreed to introduce the First Past the Post (FFP) electoral system for the 2025 and 2028 Local Government elections. First Past the Post means the candidate with the most votes is elected.
Why can’t we do this survey anonymously?
We need to ensure our responses to our survey are verifiable to people in our community. Verification also helps us ensure we are getting a demographically representative sample of our community.
