Submissions can be made online by clicking here.
Representation review - giving a voice to our community
Council wants to hear from our community regarding Council’s Initial Proposal for representation arrangements in the Buller District - that is to retain the status quo for the local government elections in 2025 and 2028.
Under sections 19H and 19J of the Local Electoral Act 2001 (the Act), Buller District Council must review their representation arrangements at least every six years.
Buller District Council last reviewed its representation arrangements before the 2019 local authority elections. Therefore, Council is required to undertake a review before the next triennial elections in October 2025.
As part of the review Council has prepared an Initial Proposal that the district keeps its existing representation arrangements (the status quo) for the local government elections in 2025 and 2028.
The Initial Proposal (status quo) proposes that:
- Council would comprise ten (10) members elected from three (3) wards and the Mayor elected at large.
- The district would be divided into three (3) wards: the Seddon Ward, represented by two (2) Councillors; the Inangahua Ward, represented by two (2) Councillors; and the Westport Ward, represented by six (6) Councillors.
- There will be an Inangahua Community, comprising the area of Inangahua Ward.
- The Inangahua Community Board will comprise four elected members and two members appointed by the council representing Inangahua Ward
Further information on the Initial Proposal is available in the Consultation Document.
The submission period is from Monday, 5 August, to Thursday, 5 September, 4:30 p.m.
Have your say
We are seeking your views about Council's Initial Proposal – keeping the status quo.
There are various ways to participate and have your say. Completing the online or paper submission forms will only take about 10 minutes.
You will be asked if you support the Initial proposal and if you have any comments on the Initial Proposal.
Submission forms can be downloaded here or obtained from Council offices in Westport and Reefton, the Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library, and Information Centres in Northern Buller.
You can drop off your completed submission form at Councils' Westport offices and the Reefton Visitor and Service Centre or post it to Buller District Council, PO Box 21, Westport 7866.
The submission period is from Monday, 5 August, to Thursday, 5 September, 4:30 p.m. Submissions received outside these dates will not be accepted. Please note that submissions must be made using the paper or online form.
Have a read of our FAQs on this page, download a copy of the Consultation Document or grab a copy of the Consultation Document from the Council’s offices and libraries in your area.
You can email us with the subject “Representation Review” if you have any questions to info@bdc.govt.nz.
Frequently asked questions
Want to know more? Please read our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the Representation Review.
Why is the status quo still the best representation arrangement?
- Population growth in the district and the demographic split have seen minimal change since 2019 (Statistics New Zealand latest population projections).
- Changes to settlement patterns, development activity and transportation links have been minimal since 2019.
- The current ward structure ensures that each geographical area of the district is represented in the best way possible.
- The current ward boundaries and allocation of councillors per ward are within the +/-10% threshold for fair representation*.
*Under section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, fair representation for electors is met when the membership of wards provides approximately the same population equality per member; that is, all votes are of approximately equal value (no more than 10% greater or smaller than the population of the district divided by the total number of 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 wards, but everyone gets to vote for who they want to be mayor.
Although candidates stand for their ward area when voted on to the 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.
We have a detailed map of the wards available here and included an overview of the wards with the population and number of Councillors in the Consultation Document on page 5.
What is the current population in each ward and Councillors per ward?
|
Ward |
Estimated residential population* |
Current number of Councillors |
Population- Councillor ratio ** |
Deviation from district average Population per Councillor |
Percentage deviation from district average population per Councillor |
|
Seddon Ward |
1,780 |
2 |
890 |
-78 |
-8.06 |
|
Inangahua Ward |
1,830 |
2 |
915 |
-53 |
-5.48 |
|
Westport Ward |
6,070 |
6 |
1,012 |
44 |
4.51 |
|
TOTAL |
9,680 |
10 |
968*** |
|
|
*Estimated Resident Population on 30 June 2023, based on the 2018 census, usually resident population counts (Source: Statistics New Zealand).
**Population per Councillor, based on estimated residential population divided by ten members.
***Population per Councillor across the whole district .
What is a representation review?
Under sections 19H and 19J of the Local Electoral Act 2001 (the Act), all territorial authorities must review their representation arrangements at least every six years. This is to ensure that the community has a fair and effective representation at the local government elections.
These reviews determine the number of councillors to be elected, the basis of election for councillors, and, if this includes wards, the boundaries and names of those wards.
Reviews also include whether community boards are to be established and, if so, membership arrangements for those boards. Representation arrangements must be determined to provide fair and effective representation for individuals and communities.
Council last reviewed its representation arrangements before the 2019 local authority elections. Therefore, Council must undertake a review before the next triennial elections in October 2025.
What does the review process involve?
Under the Act, representation arrangements are reviewed every six years, starting with the Council developing an Initial Proposal for consultation with the community.
Council will consider the submissions to the Initial Proposal, and listen to people who wish to speak to their submissions during a hearing. Council will consider all the submissions and then adopt a Final Proposal which will be made available for public objections and appeals.
If no objections or appeals are received the Final Proposal becomes the Representation Arrangements for the 2025 and 2028 triennial elections.
If objections or appeals to the Final Proposal are received, then the Final Proposal and the objections or appeals are forwarded to the Local Government Commission for a final determination.
How did Council develop its Initial Proposal?
Council considered the options for representation arrangements in workshops in 2023. Key factors discussed in the workshops were whether the current arrangements:
- Recognised the district communities of interest
- Provided for an effective representation
- Fairly represented the electors in the district
Based on the discussions at the workshops, Buller District Council formally reviewed its representation arrangements under section 19H of the Local Electoral Act 2001 in a Council meeting on 29 May 2024.
Taking into consideration updated information about Buller’s population, Council decided that the status quo still provided fair representation for Buller’s residents in the three key areas. Also, importantly, the current wards will still adhere to the ‘+/-10% rule’.*
It resolved that the status quo should be adopted as the Initial Proposal for the 2025 and 2028 local government elections for public consultation.
*Under section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, fair representation for electors is met when the membership of wards provides approximately the same population equality per member; that is, all votes are of approximately equal value (no more than 10% greater or smaller than the population of the district divided by the total number of members).
What are we not consulting on?
The choice of electoral system is not part of this review. Council has already determined to retain the “First-Past-the-Post” electoral system.
Whether or not to have Māori electoral wards is not part of this review either. Council has already determined not to have Māori electoral wards.
