Representation Review 2025

Kaikо̄ura District Council is undertaking a Representation Review for the 2025 & 2028 elections. This is a formal process that looks at how the elected council is structured.

Every six years councils must review how communities are represented in the make-up of their council. This is to ensure councils are structured to best serve the interests and needs of the community.

A representation review looks at the structures in place, including:

• the number of elected members (councillors)
• whether councillors are elected at large (across the whole district), from wards, or a mix
• the number of wards (electoral areas), their boundaries and names
• whether there are community boards

Three important factors to be considered during the review are:

• What are Kaikо̄ura’s communities of interest?
• How can those communities be effectively represented?
• How can those communities be fairly represented?

What’s the current representation arrangement?

Kaikо̄ura District Council comprises a Mayor and seven councillors, all elected ‘at large’ from across the district. There are no Community Boards.

Kaikо̄ura’s at large system has been in place for a number of years, reflecting the district’s compact geographical area, small population (4,230) and the commonalities of interest across the district.

Preliminary decisions

The Council has already considered two questions that are related but not formally part of the of this review:

Voting system: In September 2023 the Council resolved to retain the first past the post (FPP) electoral system for the 2025 and 2028 elections.

Māori representation: In October 2023, after engagement with Māori, the Council resolved not to establish a Māori ward.

What’s the process?

The review follows a process and timeline set down in legislation (the Local Electoral Act 2001).

• The Council must adopt an initial proposal no later than 31 July 2024.
• Once adopted, the proposal is open for consultation
• The Council will hold hearings and deliberations on any submissions received
• It will then confirm its final proposal, no later than 3 November 2024

How can you have a say?

Kaikо̄ura District Council adopted it's initial proposal on 26th June 2024.

The initial proposal has been publicly notified and is open for public submissions for one month.

Copies of the proposal and background information are available, and anyone can make a submission either online or on hard copy forms.

HOW TO MAKE A SUBMISSION?

Provide your feedback or input via the online submission form (see link below); By sending a written letter to the Kaikōura District Council, PO Box 6, Kaikōura; or by email to submissions@kaikoura.govt.nz.

The engagement process for feedback closes on, and must be at Council’s office

no later than 4.30pm, 5th August 2024.

Find out more about Representation Reviews at the Local Government Commission