Final proposal for representation arrangements for the 2025 and 2028 local elections

Submissions

On 30 October 2024 the Buller District Council considered the submissions received in its Initial Proposal regarding the representation arrangements for the Council and constituent community board to apply for the local elections held on 11 October 2025 and in 2028.

The Council received ten submissions on its proposal.  Two submissions were in favour of the Council’s proposal.  Eight submissions contained objections to various elements of the proposal, as follows:

• Reduce councillor numbers
• Make Karamea its own ward
• Change boundaries to allow voting in another specified area
• Remove Inangahua Community Board
• Create a Southern Ward including Carters Beach and southern coastal communities  

Final Proposal

Having considered all of the objections, the Council resolved to adopt its initial proposal as the Council’s final proposal without any amendments:

The Council rejected the objections for the following reasons:

• Any variation to the proposed councillor numbers would result in non-compliance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001 (the +/- 10% rule) 
• A reduction in the number of councillors would reduce the council’s ability to provide effective representation for communities across the district 
• The creation of proposed new wards would divide existing communities of interest
• The minimum of two councillors per ward provides residents with more effective representation, whereas the new wards suggested by submitters would only have one councillor. 

Therefore the final proposal is as follows:

Council Representation 

It is proposed that the representation arrangement for Buller District be as follows: 

Buller District, as delineated on SO Plan 11451 deposited with Land Information New Zealand, will be divided into three wards. Those three wards will be: 

1. Seddon Ward, comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 14452 deposited with Land Information New Zealand
2. Inangahua Ward, comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 14454 deposited with Land Information New Zealand
3. Westport Ward, comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 14453 deposited with Land Information New Zealand.

The Council will comprise the mayor, elected at large, and 10 councillors elected as follows: 

1. 2 councillors elected by the electors of Seddon Ward 
2. 2 councillors elected by the electors of Inangahua Ward 
3. 6 councillors elected by the electors of Westport Ward. 

The population that each member will represent is as follows: 

 *Estimated Resident Population at 30 June 2023, based on 2018 census usually resident population counts (Source: Statistics New Zealand).

The population that each member represents falls within the range of 968 +/-10% (871 – 1,065) in accordance with Section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act 2001. 

Community Board Representation 

There will be an Inangahua Community Board, comprising the area of Inangahua Ward. The Community Board will not be subdivided for electoral purposes.

The Inangahua Community Board will comprise four elected members and two members appointed by the council representing Inangahua Ward. 

Appeals  

Any person who made a submission on the Council’s initial proposal may lodge an appeal against the Council’s decision.  An appeal must relate to matters raised in that person’s submission. Appeals must be made in writing and must be received by Council no later than 3 December 2024.  

Appeals are to be forwarded to:

• Attention: Paul Numan, General Manager, Corporate Services
• Buller District Council, 6-8 Borough Street, Westport
• Buller District Council, P O Box 21, Westport 7866
• Email: Paul.numan@bdc.govt.nz  

Further information:

More information on ward boundaries is available on Council’s website.

Please direct all written enquiries regarding the Council’s decision to Paul Numan (General Manager Corporate Services) – see contact details above.

Simon Pickford, Chief Executive Officer