Final proposal for representation progresses
The six-yearly review of our Council representative arrangements has decided to keep the status quo.
Earlier this month, Councillors considered submissions and heard from two submitters in our Representation Review consultation.
Following considerations, the elected members voted to keep our previously proposed representation structure for the next two local Council elections in 2025 and 2028.
We received 93 submissions which showed overall support for the proposal to include 14Councillors, elected to represent the District’s five General Wards and one Māori Ward, with a Mayor elected at large.
The decision was also made to keep the Motueka and Golden Bay Community Boards.
Numerous submissions were either in support of or against the decision to establish a Māori Ward, however this was outside the scope of the review and not included in the Representation Review process.
There’s now an appeal period for those who made submissions on the final proposal decision which is open until Friday 29 November. Under the Local Electoral Act 2002, section 19O submitters can only appeal matters raised in their submission.
The Government has changed legislation regarding about local council Māori Wards.
In 2023 Tasman District Council decided to put a Māori Ward in place under then legislation that at the time removed the need for a binding poll.
Now that option has changed leaving us with two options.
- Rescind the decision to create a Māori ward by council resolution. In this case, the proposed Māori ward would not be in place for the 2025 local elections and the Council will then need to restart the representation review process.
- Hold a binding poll on the question of a Māori ward at the 2025 local elections. In this case the proposed Māori ward would remain in place for the 2025 elections, and the outcome of the poll would take effect at the 2028 elections.
We are required to formally resolve a decision on these options by 6 September 2024.
Every six years we must review the shape of our Council. We must consider whether we have wards, if so, how many, their boundaries, and their names, including the name of the new Māori ward which has now been established.
Consideration also needs to be made about the number of councillors and whether they are elected by ward and/or at large.
This review will also look at the role of the Council’s two community boards in Motueka and Golden Bay. We can decide whether to establish or disestablish any community board and, if it's decided to create another one, how many community boards to have.
We are seeking your views as we make sure Tasman District’s representation arrangements continue to meet the District’s needs.
We need to get a final proposal together by the end of next year - 2024 with any new arrangements to apply for the 2025 and 2028 elections. Our First Past the Post voting system decided upon in the 2019 review will remain for the 2025 election.
You can learn more about representation reviews on the Local Government Commission website (click the link)
How will you be represented at your Council?
The role of elected members, our Mayor, Councillors and Community Board members, includes acting as a voice for the local community. We are looking for ideas and feedback on whether our arrangement for fair and effective representation meet the needs and expectations of Tasman's residents.
What do we need to consider when making decisions?
- What are our communities of interest?
- What are the best means to provide effective representation of communities of interest?
- What is fair representation of electors?
What are ‘communities of interest’?
When looking at boundaries for local representation, we are required to consider ‘communities of interest’. This term can be subjective, however we generally consider three factors:
- A sense of belonging to an area.
- An ability to meet the community requirements for services.
- An ability politically to represent the interest of the community.
What is being proposed?
Initial proposal for representation arrangements for the 2025 local elections.
On 17 July 2024 Tasman District Council reviewed its representation arrangements, and resolved that the following proposal apply for the Council and its community boards for the elections to be held on 11 October 2025:
Council representation
Tasman District Council will comprise a mayor, elected at large, and 14 councillors elected from five general wards and one Māori ward. The wards reflect the following identified communities of interest:
Ward | Communities of interest |
| Golden Bay General Ward | Collingwood, Tākaka and the wider area of the current Golden Bay Ward as delineated on SO Plan 14463 deposited with Land Information New Zealand |
| Lakes-Murchison General Ward | Murchison, Tapawera, St Arnaud and the wider area of the current Lakes-Murchison Ward as delineated on SO Plan 386473 deposited with Land Information New Zealand |
| Moutere-Waimea General Ward | Māpua, Upper Moutere, Ngātīmoti Wakefield, Brightwater and the wider area of the current Moutere-Waimea Ward as delineated on SO Plan 14933 deposited with Land Information New Zealand |
| Motueka General Ward | Motueka, Mārahau, Kaiteriteri, Riwaka, Lower Moutere and the wider area of the current Motueka Ward as delineated on SO Plan 14464 deposited with Land Information New Zealand |
| Richmond General Ward | Richmond, Hope and the wider area of the current Richmond Ward as delineated on SO Plan 14466 deposited with Land Information New Zealand |
| TeTai o Aorere Māori Ward | The whole of the Tasman District |
The population (based on Statistics NZ estimates as of 30 June 2023) that each member will represent is as follows:
Ward | Population | Number of Councillors | Population per Councillor |
| Golden Bay General Ward | 5,590 | 2 | 2,795 |
| Lakes-Murchison General Ward | 3,990 | 1 | 3,990 |
| Moutere-Waimea General Ward | 15,350 | 3 | 5,117 |
| Motueka General Ward | 12,500 | 3 | 4,167 |
| Richmond General Ward | 19,350 | 4 | 4,838 |
Total (General Wards) | 56,780 | 13 | 4,368 |
| TeTai o Aorere Māori Ward | 2,540 | 1 | |
Total | 59,320 |
In accordance with section 19V(2), Local Electoral Act 2001 the population that each member represents must be within the range of 4,368 +/- 10% (3,931 to 4,805), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.
The representation of the Golden Bay, Moutere-Waimea and Richmond General Wards falls outside the stipulated range. The Council proposes that the Golden Bay General Ward be treated as an isolated community and be exempt from complying with S19V(2) on the grounds provided under S19V(3)(a) that non-compliance is required for effective representation of isolated communities of interest within this ward. The Council proposes that the Moutere-Waimea and Richmond General Wards be exempt from complying with s19V(2) on the grounds provided under S19V(3)(a) that compliance would limit effective representation by dividing communities of interest between wards.
Māori Ward
Following resolution CN23-09-6 Council has established a Māori ward and proposes that it be named ‘Te Tai o Aorere Māori Ward’.
This decision was taken following engagement with the Chairs of the eight Te Tauihu Iwi
Trusts, as representatives of those who whakapapa to their Trusts. The Iwi Chairs
expressed their support for a Māori Ward for Tasman District.
The Government has now introduced the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill.
This bill now requires us to either rescind that decision to have a Māori Ward at the 2025 local government election which means the ward will not be in place for the 2025 election, or we can hold a binding poll on the question of a Māori ward at the 2025 local elections and restart this representation review process from the beginning.
This means the proposed Māori Ward would remain in place for the 2025 elections, and the outcome of the poll would take effect at the 2028 elections.
Community Board Representation
It is proposed that there will be two communities which will be represented by community boards, as follows:
| Golden Bay Community Board | Area covered by the present Golden Bay Ward boundaries |
| Motueka Community Board | Area covered by the present Motueka Ward boundaries |
The Golden Bay and Motueka Community Boards will each elect four members. They will not be subdivided for electoral purposes. Elected ward members will be appointed to the Boards as follows:
| Golden Bay Community Board | Two elected Golden Bay Ward councillors and/or the Te Tai o Aorere Māori Ward councillor |
| Motueka Community Board | Three elected Motueka Ward councillors and/or the Te Tai o Aorere Māori Ward councillor |
