Representation Review 2024
Our preliminary engagement started Monday 7 March. We have several ways for you to ask questions and provide feedback. This includes completing the online survey below, and available at our libraries and service centres, as well as drop-in sessions
Decisions already made
Our Council has already made two related decisions which are not part of this engagement process:
• The Single Transferable Vote electoral system, which Council already has in place, will be retained for the 2025 and 2028 elections.
• A Māori ward and new Māori ward Councillor will be established for the 2025 elections.
For the past year we have been talking to the community about the electoral process, with elected members voting to:
(1) retain the first past the post (FPP) voting system
(2) introduce designated Māori representation through the introduction of one or more Māori wards
Elected members voted to introduce one or Māori wards in November 2023, in addition to general wards, we now need to consider how we best represent community voices at the council table with Māori wards included.
(3) The representation review is the third and final step of the process required before the 2025 and 2028 elections. The introduction of Māori wards means we will have changes to the current representation.
Following feedback from tangata whenua and iwi, residents and ratepayers within the community, Council will propose how the district is best represented. You will have several opportunities to have your say through this process.
Rārangi wā | Timeline:
Council workshop 1 (overview) | 21 February 2024 |
Early Feedback | 7 March to 5 April 2024 |
Council meeting to adopt initial proposal | 26 June 2024 |
Submission period | 1 July – 5 Aug 2024 |
Submission Hearings - for submitters to present their submission to elected members | Wed, 28 Aug 2024 |
Council meeting to adopt final proposal resolution | 25 Sept 2024 |
Appeal / objection period | 30 Sept – 4 Nov 2024 |
LGC determination (if required) | by 10 April 2025 |
What do we have now?
As of 2022 we have 5,125 electors (people eligible to vote) in Kawerau.
Currently, Kawerau is represented by one mayor, eight councillors and no community board. Our councillors are elected 'at large', meaning they look after the whole district.
What does the review involve?
The objective of a representation review is to ensure fair and effective representation for individuals and communities. The review must consider:
Defining communities of interest
Effective representation of communities of interest, and
Fair representation of electors
What are we asking our community?
How many seats should represent our community for the Māori electoral roll and how many seats should represent the general electoral roll?
Based on the number of electors on both rolls and the population if we retain the status quo of eight (8) seats, it means four seats will represent people on the Māori electoral roll and four seats will represent people on the general electoral roll. The review asks the community whether we have the right number of seats around the council table representing you. There are other options such as:
What ward can you vote for?
Representatives for Māori wards will be elected by people who are enrolled on the Māori Parliamentary Electoral Roll. Electors of these wards will not be able to vote for members of the general wards. Similarly, people who are enrolled on the General Parliamentary Electoral Roll would vote for members of the general wards but not for members of the Māori wards. All electors would still vote for the mayor.
How could you be represented?
Currently councillors represent the entire Kawerau District as one ward. With the inclusion of Māori representation, the seats at the table representing residents will now be both Māori and general wards. The councillors elected for each ward will look after the same number of people in the district.
There is an option to have a combination of both Māori and General wards, and also have an ‘at large’ ward. If we keep eight councillors this could look like 3 Māori ward, 3 general ward and 2 ‘at large’ councillors. (this is just an example any numbers can be considered)
What is a community board?
Community boards are unincorporated bodies which are neither local authorities nor committees. Community boards typically represent a smaller area within their council | kaunihera, to ensure smaller communities’ voices aren’t lost in the big picture conversations | kōrero.