Wairoa District Council is reviewing its representation arrangements for the triennial local authority elections to be held next year.

On 30 July 2024, the Council resolved its preferred option is to continue with the status quo with the Wairoa District Council to comprise the mayor elected at large and six councillors elected from two district-wide wards being a Wairoa ward represented by three general ward councillors and a Wairoa Māori Ward, represented by three Māori ward councillors.

Public submissions are now open, and the Council urges people to have their say.

All local authorities are required to review representation arrangements at least once every six years. The last review for the Wairoa District Council was undertaken in 2018 (for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections), with the next review required in 2024 (for at least the 2025 triennial election)

A representation arrangements review considers whether councillors are elected by electors ‘at large’ or by electors of wards or a mixture, the total number of councillors, whether there are community boards etc.

The current arrangements, the Mayor and three district-wide general ward councillors and three district-wide Māori ward councillors were established following a Māori Ward Poll held in 2016, and applied for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections. Prior to undertaking a representation arrangements review, two other issues require Council consideration - the choice of electoral system, and whether Māori wards are retained. Both of these issues were considered by the Council on 22 August 2023, where it was resolved to retain the first past the post (FPP) electoral system and to retain Māori wards for the 2025 triennial elections.

To have your say on how you would like to be represented, head to Representation Review | WDC Consultations (wairoadc.govt.nz)

22 August 2024

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