Representation Review 2024

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Final Proposal approved and Māori Ward confirmed for 2025

Hauraki District Representation Review

On Wednesday 28 August, Council confirmed that the Final Proposal for the makeup of Council for the 2025 Triennial election received no objections. The next step is to advertise the representation arrangement for the 2025 local government election

Council also affirmed their decision to establish a Māori Ward with two new Councillors.

This means that in October 2025...

People on the General Roll can only vote for candidates in their Ward and the Mayor:

  • Waihī Ward - 4 Councillors
  • Paeroa Ward - 3 Councillors
  • Plains Ward -

Final Proposal approved and Māori Ward confirmed for 2025

Hauraki District Representation Review

On Wednesday 28 August, Council confirmed that the Final Proposal for the makeup of Council for the 2025 Triennial election received no objections. The next step is to advertise the representation arrangement for the 2025 local government election

Council also affirmed their decision to establish a Māori Ward with two new Councillors.

This means that in October 2025...

People on the General Roll can only vote for candidates in their Ward and the Mayor:

  • Waihī Ward - 4 Councillors
  • Paeroa Ward - 3 Councillors
  • Plains Ward - 4 Councillors

People on the Māori Roll can only vote for candidates in the Māori Ward and the Mayor:

  • Māori Ward - 2 Councillors

Binding Poll at 2025 Local Elections for future of Māori Wards

  • Everyone will vote in the binding poll on the future of Māori Wards for the 2028 and 2031 Local Government Elections.

Here's how it works

  • People must be on the Māori Roll to vote for the Māori Ward candidates.
  • Everyone gets one vote for the Mayor.
  • Candidates standing for election cannot stand for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward and a General Ward at the same time.

The Future of Māori Wards

Central Government require, for Councils that didn't rescind their Māori Ward decision, to hold a binding poll at the same time as the 2025 Local Government Elections on the future of Māori Wards.

The result on that poll will determine the future of Māori Wards for the 2028 and 2031 Local Government elections.

If the referendum is in favour of continuing with Māori Wards, there'll be no change, but if it is against, we'll be required to hold another Representation Review leading up to the 2028 local government elections.

Whakapapa | Background

Representation Review - what is it?

The Local Electoral Act 2001 s19H requires local authorities to undertake a review of their representation arrangements at least once every six years. The Council carried out its last review in 2018 (for the 2019 and 2022 triennial elections) and is therefore required to undertake another review this year, for the 2025 and 2028 triennial elections. The Review is an opportunity to look at the number of elected members; ward boundaries and names and/or to consider community boards.

  • Naming the Māori Ward

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    Te Pakikau o te Ika Maōri Ward

    The Hauraki region was traditionally known as Te Tara o te Ika a Māui or the barb of the fish of Māui. (With the fish being the shape of a stingray and the Coromandel Peninsula being the barb).

    On the image shown here, you can see how the shape of the North Island takes on the shape of a Stingray. Either side of the barb are the fins or “flaps of the fish”. We have two places here in Hauraki which take on the name Te Pakikau o te Ika. Both are located either side of the' barb' when viewing a map directly above Hauraki. These blocks are perfectly located where the fins of the stingray would be, looking at the image. Quite fascinating that Māori were able to name places in near exact locations without the use of modern tools or technology.


  • General and Māori Wards

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    What are Wards?

    • Ward(s) are a pre-defined geographic area(s) within a district identified for electoral purposes. They have been determined by population and communities of interest.
    • Plains General Ward covers the general Plains area north of Netherton to north of Waharau with four elected Councillors.
    • Paeroa General Ward covers the general Paeroa urban and rural areas from Netherton to Karangahake with three elected Councillors.
    • Waihi General Ward covers the general Waihi area from Waikino to Parakiwai with four elected Councillors.
    • Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward covers the whole district with two elected Councillors.
    • Hauraki District will have 13 Councillors (including the two new Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward Councillors) plus the Mayor for the 2025 LGE.

    Who can stand in the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward?

    • To be eligible to stand for election, a candidate must be:
    • A New Zealand citizen (by birth or citizenship ceremony).
    • Enrolled as a Parliamentary elector anywhere in New Zealand.
    • Nominated by TWO electors whose names appear on the electoral roll for Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
    • Candidates do not need to be of Māori descent.
    • Candidates cannot stand for Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward and a General Ward at the same time.


    Can a candidate who doesn’t live in the Ward stand for that Ward?

    • Yes, but they must declare in their profile provided to voters if the Ward is their primary residence or not.
    • Yes, but they must be nominated by two electors who do live in the Ward where they are standing for election.
    • The candidate or their spouse/partner must not have concerns or interests in contracts over $25,000 with the Council.
    • If the candidate is subject to a Court Order under section 31 of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988, they should take legal advice.
    • If the candidate is an employee of Council, they must resign before taking up their position as an elected member. The rules of some Councils may require them to take leave for campaigning prior to the election.


    Who can vote in the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward?

    • People enrolled on the Māori Electoral Roll for the Hauraki District can vote for candidates standing for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
    • People on the general electoral roll for the Hauraki District cannot vote for candidates standing for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
    • People on the Māori Electoral Roll for the Hauraki District cannot vote for candidates standing for any of the general Wards.
    • If you are Māori, you are able to move to or from the Māori Electoral Roll (- Māori Electoral Option) up until three months before a general election.


    Are these statements true?

    • People on the Māori Roll can only vote for candidates standing for the Te Pakikau o te Ika Māori Ward.
    • Only voters listed on the same general electoral roll for a given general Ward can cast votes for candidates running in that particular general Ward.
    • People on the General and Māori rolls can vote for the Mayor of the Hauraki District.
    • If you live outside of Hauraki District but own property within the District and pay rates for that property you may qualify to vote as a non-resident ratepayer.

    When will nominations for the 2025 local government elections open and close?

    • Nominations for Councillor and/or Mayor open Friday 04 July 2025.
    • Nominations for Councillor and/or Mayor close 12 Noon, Friday 01 August 2025.
    • It costs $200 to lodge a nomination for each position standing – to be paid before 12 Noon, Friday 01 August 2025. You need to bring a form of identification e.g. drivers licence or passport, and a passport size photo for the candidate profile booklet.
    • Public notice of candidates’ name and day of election is Friday 08 August 2025.
    • Delivery (by post) of voting documents (includes Māori Ward poll form) begins Tuesday 09 September 2025 through to Monday 22 September 2025.
    • Final day for casting votes is 12 Noon Saturday 11 October 2025. If you are posting voting papers make sure they will arrive at the Electoral Office before 12 Noon Saturday 11 October 2025.
    • Declaration of votes no later than Sunday 19 October 2025.









  • Public Notice:

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    3 May 2024



  • Media Release: Council's initial representation review proposal

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    24 April 2024

    Hauraki District Council voted today to reduce by one the number of Councillors per Ward for the 2025 Local Government elections while standing by the decision to add two Māori Ward Councillors, bringing the total number of Councillors to 12 plus the Mayor for 2025.

    Courage and common-sense

    “Today our Councillors showed courage and common-sense to come to a conclusion for the best way forward for our communities”, said Hauraki District Council Mayor, Toby Adams.

    “As has been demonstrated with our Love This Place (Long Term Plan 2024-2034), Placemaking and Hauraki Plains Adaptation Plan community meetings, our Councillors work across the whole district, not just in their Ward. It’s the Hauraki way.

    For this reason we feel comfortable reducing the current number of Councillors per ward by one for 2025, plus adding one Māori Ward with two Councillors, and still have good representation for the Wards around the Council table”, he said.

    The next step is for Council to take this option to the community for feedback as it sits outside the guidelines for population vs councillor ratio.

    Getting the job done

    “Here’s where being bold comes in”, said Mayor Toby.

    “With the support of the community, we can achieve something quite unique. We’ve seen that 13 elected members can get the job done, we don’t think we need more Councillors, so today’s decision means more inclusivity for the same effectiveness. We think that’s a win-win for Council and the community.”

    Boundary adjustment proposed

    To achieve the head of population to councillor ratio for the option proposed by Council, there would need to be a very minor tweak to the Plains and Paeroa Ward boundaries to meet the +-10% threshold. The population for the Plains currently sits at 1% over the threshold for the proposed option.

    Hauraki District currently has, (based on population), four Councillors each for Paeroa and Plains Ward, and five for Waihī Ward, for a total of 13 Councillors plus the Mayor.

    This new option proposes three Councillors each for Paeroa and Plains; four Councillors for Waihī and 2 Māori Ward Councillors for a total of 12 Councillors plus the Mayor.

    Councils are required to review their representation arrangements every six years. Hauraki District Council will take this proposed option to the community for their feedback during May.

    “We think it makes sense to go with these numbers. We’re proposing to slightly amend the Paeroa/Plains border to meet the population to councillor ratio and we’re keen to hear what our communities think about this option when we go out for consultation in May”, said Mayor Toby.

  • Media Release: Council votes to include Māori Ward in 2025 local government elections

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Page last updated: 05 Feb 2025, 07:46 AM