Representation Review 2024

Western Bay has a mayor who is elected by the whole of the District i.e. ‘at large’

There are 11 councillors, three represent the Katikati-Waihī Beach ward; four represent the Kaimai Ward and four represent the Maketu-Te Puke Ward.

We also have five community boards each with four members and two councillors:

• Waihī Beach Community Board
• Katikati Community Board
• Ōmokoroa Community Board
• Te Puke Community Board
• Maketu Community Board

See map of the current ward and community board boundaries.

Council has resolved to establish Māori wards for the 2025 local body elections. Based on the formula in the Local Electoral Act 2002 our District could have one or two Māori ward members on Council. This depends on how many other councillors we have.

A democratic system requires financial and other resources to make sure it works. Cost is not a key Representation Review consideration. The pay of elected members (mayor, councillors and community board members) is set independently by the Remuneration Authority. Any cost to the ratepayer remains the same regardless of how many councillors there are (but individual pay may change). Costs to the ratepayer will vary depending on if an area has a community board and the size of the ratepayer base in that area.

When reviewing boundaries for local representation, we are required to consider ‘communities of interest’. To do this we consider three criteria:

1. A sense of belonging to an area. People have things in common with neighbours and feel an affinity and shared responsibility to the area and its people.
2. An ability to meet the community’s requirements for services e.g. schools, recreation, and cultural facilities.
3. The ability of elected members to represent the interests and reconcile the conflicts of all its community members.

Representation Review: This to ensure that we retain effective and fair representation for the community. Councils are also required to review their representation arrangements every six years.

Mayor: The individual elected to lead the Council. One Mayor is elected for each Council.

Councillor: The individuals elected to represent their communities and make decisions at the Council table. A Council can have between 5 and 29 councillors (excluding the mayor.)

Community board: A group of individuals elected to represent a particular place or community.

General wards: Means a ward (area) that has been geographically identified to choose their representatives, doesn’t include Māori ward.

Māori wards: Māori wards establish areas where people who choose to go on the Māori electoral roll can vote for councillors to represent them.

At large: Means elected members can be elected on a district wide basis and voters are able to vote for the people they think are the best candidates, regardless of where they live.

General electoral population: People that live in the district but not including those on the Maori electoral population. This is based on census data

Māori electoral population: A calculation based on the number of electors on the Māori electoral roll and proportions of those of Māori descent not registered and those under 18 years of age.

Fair and effective representation: The principal that Councillors represent an approximately equal number of people.