Representation Review 2024

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Kia ora, welcome to the Representation Review 2024 project page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the project, including the key decisions Councillors have decided, the rationale for why, frequently asked questions, and next steps. Check out the information below, as well as on the right-hand side of this page, for all this and more.


What has been decided?

On Wednesday 20 November 2024, Western Bay of Plenty District Council decided on the way the District will be represented in local decision making for the next six years.

The arrangements for the 2025 and 2028 elections responds to community feedback and provide for enhanced localism in decision-making.

These decisions were made following public consultation on Council’s initial representation proposal carried out between 16 September and 11 October 2024. Representation arrangements considered in the proposal include the number of general and Māori Councillors and the way they are elected, ward boundaries, and community representation.


Here’s a breakdown of the key decisions:

  • There will be three general wards (Katikati-Waihī Beach, Kaimai, and Maketu-Te Puke) and one Māori ward that covers the whole district. This decision supports the feedback received by the community, with 389 respondents (86% of submitters) in favour of the three general ward structure, and 278 submitters (53%) supporting the establishment of Māori wards. This decision aligns with the principles of fair representation and acknowledges the importance of Māori perspectives at the Council decision making table. Each community member has one vote for a Councillor: those on the Māori electoral roll vote for a Māori ward candidate, and those on the general roll for a general ward candidate.

As required by legislation introduced last year, the inclusion of a Māori ward in the final proposal means that a binding poll must be run alongside the 2025 local election. This will ask the community to vote on whether they want to keep Māori wards or remove them. The outcome of this poll will be binding for both the 2028 and 2031 elections.


  • There will be 1 Mayor, 1 Māori Ward Councillor and eight general Ward Councillors – a reduction from the current 1 Mayor and 11 general Ward Councillors. There will be two Councillors representing the Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward, three representing the Kaimai Ward, and three representing the Maketu-Te Puke Ward. As the remuneration pool remains the same regardless of Councillor numbers, reducing the number of Councillors means higher remuneration for each, potentially attracting a wider selection of candidates/Councillors. A smaller council may enhance efficient and focused decision-making, without any loss of quality in decision-making.


  • We’ve adjusted two ward boundaries: between the Kaimai and Katikati-Waihī Beach wards, and also between the Kaimai and Maketu-Te Puke wards. This was linked to the proposal to reduce the number of general ward Councillors to 8, making sure that each ward has approximately the same amount of community representation per Councillor (approximately 6,700 per Councillor).


  • There will be three community boards, each covering one of the three wards - Katikati-Waihī Beach (excluding Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands), Kaimai, and Maketu-Te Puke. Each will have six elected community board members and two Councillors appointed from their respective ward. The ward areas will be broken down further into electoral subdivisions (see table below). The subdivision element is a critical part of this decision as it ensures that each community gets to vote for representatives from the subdivision area, ensuring that we have local people with local knowledge.

Ward subdivision population break-down:

*Note 1 and *Note 2

The proposed subdivision arrangements for the Maketu-Te Puke and Katikati-Waihī Beach wards do not comply with the +/- 10% rule for fair representation. However, legislation provides for arrangements that don’t comply where Council considers this would limit effective representation of those communities. Further information on the rationale for these arrangements can be found on the Council agenda report.

This proposal was different to the community board arrangements outlined in the initial representation proposal, but Council thinks this option best responds to feedback about inequitable coverage of community boards in the District.


Why are we having this kōrero?

Councils are required to review their representation arrangements every six years to ensure that we have effective and fair representation for the community. It includes things like where the boundaries of our District’s voting wards go and the number of elected councillors that we have.

We last did this in 2018 and our District has changed since then.

Population estimates show nearly 12,000 newcomers to the Western Bay – an increase from 48,960 in June 2017 to 60,770 in June 2023 – since the 2018 Representation Review. This includes the general electoral population increasing from 43,000 to 53,500 and the Māori electoral population increasing from 5960 to 7240. The District is also becoming increasingly diverse.

Who we are as a community continues to change, so the way you are represented in local decision making needs to evolve too. It's crucial that the make-up of Council seats reflects who we are now, not who we were.


What happens from here?

Appeals/objections to the Local Government Commission are open from Friday 22 November until Friday 13 December. And if required, the next stage in the process will be a Local Government Commission hearing in February 2025.

Once final decisions have been made on what our representation proposal will look like, these changes will be in place for Western Bay of Plenty District Council elections in both 2025 and 2028.


You can read more on the advantages and disadvantages of each issue in the Council agenda (starting on page 71) - Agenda of Council Meeting - Wednesday, 20 November 2024. Or watch the Council hui recording below, starting at 43min, 40 seconds.


Kia ora, welcome to the Representation Review 2024 project page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about the project, including the key decisions Councillors have decided, the rationale for why, frequently asked questions, and next steps. Check out the information below, as well as on the right-hand side of this page, for all this and more.


What has been decided?

On Wednesday 20 November 2024, Western Bay of Plenty District Council decided on the way the District will be represented in local decision making for the next six years.

The arrangements for the 2025 and 2028 elections responds to community feedback and provide for enhanced localism in decision-making.

These decisions were made following public consultation on Council’s initial representation proposal carried out between 16 September and 11 October 2024. Representation arrangements considered in the proposal include the number of general and Māori Councillors and the way they are elected, ward boundaries, and community representation.


Here’s a breakdown of the key decisions:

  • There will be three general wards (Katikati-Waihī Beach, Kaimai, and Maketu-Te Puke) and one Māori ward that covers the whole district. This decision supports the feedback received by the community, with 389 respondents (86% of submitters) in favour of the three general ward structure, and 278 submitters (53%) supporting the establishment of Māori wards. This decision aligns with the principles of fair representation and acknowledges the importance of Māori perspectives at the Council decision making table. Each community member has one vote for a Councillor: those on the Māori electoral roll vote for a Māori ward candidate, and those on the general roll for a general ward candidate.

As required by legislation introduced last year, the inclusion of a Māori ward in the final proposal means that a binding poll must be run alongside the 2025 local election. This will ask the community to vote on whether they want to keep Māori wards or remove them. The outcome of this poll will be binding for both the 2028 and 2031 elections.


  • There will be 1 Mayor, 1 Māori Ward Councillor and eight general Ward Councillors – a reduction from the current 1 Mayor and 11 general Ward Councillors. There will be two Councillors representing the Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward, three representing the Kaimai Ward, and three representing the Maketu-Te Puke Ward. As the remuneration pool remains the same regardless of Councillor numbers, reducing the number of Councillors means higher remuneration for each, potentially attracting a wider selection of candidates/Councillors. A smaller council may enhance efficient and focused decision-making, without any loss of quality in decision-making.


  • We’ve adjusted two ward boundaries: between the Kaimai and Katikati-Waihī Beach wards, and also between the Kaimai and Maketu-Te Puke wards. This was linked to the proposal to reduce the number of general ward Councillors to 8, making sure that each ward has approximately the same amount of community representation per Councillor (approximately 6,700 per Councillor).


  • There will be three community boards, each covering one of the three wards - Katikati-Waihī Beach (excluding Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands), Kaimai, and Maketu-Te Puke. Each will have six elected community board members and two Councillors appointed from their respective ward. The ward areas will be broken down further into electoral subdivisions (see table below). The subdivision element is a critical part of this decision as it ensures that each community gets to vote for representatives from the subdivision area, ensuring that we have local people with local knowledge.

Ward subdivision population break-down:

*Note 1 and *Note 2

The proposed subdivision arrangements for the Maketu-Te Puke and Katikati-Waihī Beach wards do not comply with the +/- 10% rule for fair representation. However, legislation provides for arrangements that don’t comply where Council considers this would limit effective representation of those communities. Further information on the rationale for these arrangements can be found on the Council agenda report.

This proposal was different to the community board arrangements outlined in the initial representation proposal, but Council thinks this option best responds to feedback about inequitable coverage of community boards in the District.


Why are we having this kōrero?

Councils are required to review their representation arrangements every six years to ensure that we have effective and fair representation for the community. It includes things like where the boundaries of our District’s voting wards go and the number of elected councillors that we have.

We last did this in 2018 and our District has changed since then.

Population estimates show nearly 12,000 newcomers to the Western Bay – an increase from 48,960 in June 2017 to 60,770 in June 2023 – since the 2018 Representation Review. This includes the general electoral population increasing from 43,000 to 53,500 and the Māori electoral population increasing from 5960 to 7240. The District is also becoming increasingly diverse.

Who we are as a community continues to change, so the way you are represented in local decision making needs to evolve too. It's crucial that the make-up of Council seats reflects who we are now, not who we were.


What happens from here?

Appeals/objections to the Local Government Commission are open from Friday 22 November until Friday 13 December. And if required, the next stage in the process will be a Local Government Commission hearing in February 2025.

Once final decisions have been made on what our representation proposal will look like, these changes will be in place for Western Bay of Plenty District Council elections in both 2025 and 2028.


You can read more on the advantages and disadvantages of each issue in the Council agenda (starting on page 71) - Agenda of Council Meeting - Wednesday, 20 November 2024. Or watch the Council hui recording below, starting at 43min, 40 seconds.


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Representation Proposal: How do you want to be represented in local decision making?

    Have a view on our Initial Proposal?

    Then take our quick and easy survey - covering these key questions and a few more - that allows you to pick and choose what you want to provide feedback on. 

    It shouldn't take any longer than five minutes.

    Share Representation Proposal: How do you want to be represented in local decision making? on Facebook Share Representation Proposal: How do you want to be represented in local decision making? on Twitter Share Representation Proposal: How do you want to be represented in local decision making? on Linkedin Email Representation Proposal: How do you want to be represented in local decision making? link
  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Table Talk Workshops

    We are running a series of workshops giving people the chance to engage in meaningful kōrero with experts on key topics: Māori representation at the Council table, reduction in councillors, and the role of our five community boards. Come and learn something new, and perhaps unpack the things that may have stopped you from joining the kōrero in the past.


    Each table will focus on one of these topics, providing an opportunity to share your views, hear from others and delve deeper into what these changes mean. You'll have the opportunity to move around and spend equal time at each of the three tables, providing you the chance to gain a good understanding of all the topics.


    This is your chance to voice concerns, ask questions, and provide feedback as you rotate through each topic. Your input is invaluable in shaping how we move forward together as a community.


    Event details:

    • Kaimai Ward - Tuesday 8 October, 6-8pm, Western Bay of Plenty District Council Chambers, 1484 Cameron Road, Tauranga 
    • Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward - Wednesday 9 October, 6-8pm, Boyd Room Pātuki Manawa Digital Hub, 21 Main Road, Katikati 
    • Maketu-Te Puke Ward - Thursday 10 October, 6-8pm, The Orchard Church, 20 MacLoughlin Drive, Te Puke
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