It is time to do a representation review which will set the scene for the 2025 and 2028 local elections. The last representation arrangements review was undertaken in 2018 (for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections).

This includes asking for your thoughts about how many Councillors we should have, whether they are elected from wards, districtwide or a combination of both, whether the district has Community Boards, and how the general and Māori ward fit together.

Our current representation arrangements are:

• One Māori ward and one General ward
• Three councillors – elected by all voters of the district enrolled on the Māori Electoral Roll
• Three councillors – elected by all voters enrolled on the General Electoral Roll
• Mayor – elected by all voters of the district enrolled on either the Māori or General Rolls
• No community boards

Representation arrangements need to be fair, effective, and representative, with geographical areas (wards) divided so each councillor ends up representing roughly the same amount of people while ensuring communities of interest are represented.