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Representation Review 2024 Community Survey

Council wishes to thank the community for their response to the representation review pre-engagement survey. Results of the survey can be found on the link below.

On 28 May 2024 the Waimate District Council reviewed its representation arrangements, pursuant to section 19H of the Local Electoral Act 2001, and resolved that the following proposal applies for the elections to be held in 2025 and 2028.

Persons with an interest in the proposed representation arrangements are invited to make a submission.

You can find the proposal and have your say here: https://www.waimatedc.govt.nz/repreview

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Representation review – what is it?

All local councils are required to carry out a representation review at least every six years under the Local Electoral Act 2001. Representation arrangements are the number of elected members on council and the way in which they are elected. This is to make sure residents have fair and effective representation at local elections.

This review is in preparation for the 2025 and 2028 local elections. Council needs your feedback to make these decisions:

  • How many councillors there should be on Council.
  • Whether councillors should be elected by wards, across the whole district (at large), or by a mix?

More information about Representation Reviews


Current arrangements

The district is currently represented by a mayor and eight councillors. The councillors are elected from:

  • Waimate Ward (four representatives)
  • Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward (two representatives)
  • Hakataramea-Waihoarunga Ward (one representative)
  • Lower Waihao Ward (one representative)

This approximately equates to one representative per 1,050 people.

Councillors are funded from district rates, but changes to the ward boundaries or the number of councillors will not have a significant impact on rates.

Councillors’ remuneration is based on a fixed pool of funds which is set independently by a government agency, the Remuneration Authority. 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.

Wards are areas of a district identified for electoral purposes. They work in the same way as seats in a general election.

Currently people can only vote for candidates in their ward, but everyone gets to vote for who they want as Mayor.

Although candidates stand for their ward area, when voted on to council, councillors swear an oath to work for the entire district.

The idea of the ward system is that all parts of the district are fairly represented.

The population of the wards must be within 10% of the average across the district. Council must balance this while considering natural geography and cultural boundaries.

Nearby, Timaru District Council has nine councillors elected from three wards and has community boards in Geraldine, Pleasant Point and Temuka.

Mackenzie District Council, with a smaller population than Waimate, has seven councillors from three wards – Twizel, Tekapo and Fairlie.

With a similar size as Waimate, Westland District Council has eight councillors elected from three separate wards.

The population of Maori in our district is well below the threshold for consideration.

Our Maori population of 320 equates to less than 1/3 of a representative.

This is a survey as opposed to the special consultation we use when asking for your opinion about the Long Term Plan or a change in policy.

The survey is intended to be quick and easy for people to complete so Council can produce their Representation Initial Proposal.

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