Council recently voted to reduce the number of Councillors per Ward by one for the 2025 Local Government elections while standing by the decision to add a Māori Ward with two Councillors, bringing the total number of Councillors to 12 plus the Mayor for 2025. What do you think?
Learn more about this option that we are proposing for the 2025 Local Government elections and make your submission online at Representation Review 2024 | Korero Mai I Let's Talk Hauraki (hauraki-dc.govt.nz)
Feedback closes at 4pm on Friday 7 June 2024.
Whakapapa | Background
Representation Review - what is it?
The Local Electoral Act 2001 s19H requires local authorities to undertake a review of their representation arrangements at least once every six years. The Council carried out its last review in 2018 (for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections) and is therefore required to undertake another review this year, for the 2025 and 2028 triennial elections. The Review is an opportunity to look at the number of elected members; ward boundaries and names and/or to consider community boards.
In October 2023 Council unanimously agreed to introduce one Māori Ward to represent the whole district, with two Councillors and this decision stands for the 2025 elections. Council also recently voted to reduce by one the number of Councillors per Ward for the 2025 Local Government elections, bringing the total number of Councillors to 12 plus the Mayor for 2025.
Central Government has indicated that it will bring a Bill to Parliament later this year for the introduction of a binding referendum on Māori Wards, to be held at the time of the Local Government elections in October 2025. Should the Bill proceed, any outcome of the Referendum on Māori Wards will apply to the 2028 triennial election. This may or may not trigger another Representation Review in three years' time, instead of in six years' time.
The population estimates (as at June 2023) for the Māori population, have been taken out of the proposed Ward figures and included in the Māori Ward, as show in the table below. People who are registered on the Māori Electoral Roll will only be able to vote for candidates standing for the Māori Ward. Learn more about the Representation Review and submit your feedback at Representation Review 2024 | Korero Mai I Let's Talk Hauraki (hauraki-dc.govt.nz)
Feedback is closes at 4pm Friday 7 June