Public Notice:

Notice of Representation Arrangements Review

Initial Proposal

Under sections 19H and 19J of the Local Electoral Act 2001, Hauraki District Council is required to carry out a review of its representation arrangements for the triennial local authority elections to be held in 2025.

On 24 April 2024, Council resolved to adopt as its initial proposal for the representation arrangements review the following:

(i) Hauraki District Council to comprise the mayor elected at large and 12 councillors elected under the ward system, specifically 10 general ward councillors and two Māori ward councillors.

(ii) Hauraki District Council be divided into four wards, these being:

• Plains General Ward (three councillors) being the existing ward comprising the area delineated on LGC-012-2013-W-2 deposited with the Local Government Commission, less three meshblocks adjoining the Paeroa Ward (1065300, 1064900 and 1065000);
• Paeroa General Ward (three councillors) being the existing ward comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 57980 deposited with Land Information New Zealand, plus three meshblocks from the adjoining Plains Ward (1065300, 1064900 and 1065000);
• Waihī Ward (four councillors), being the existing ward comprising the area delineated on SO Plan 57979 deposited with Land Information New Zealand;

(iii) Hauraki Māori Ward (two councillors), comprising the whole area of the district as delineated on Plan LG-012-2013-W-1 deposited with the Local Government Commission.

(iv) no community boards be established;

The population that each general ward councillor represents is within the range of 1,914 +/- 10% (1,722 - 2,105) in compliance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001; and the number of Māori ward councillors complies with Schedule 1A of the Local Electoral Act 2001:

In accordance with section 19K(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the reasons for the proposed changes to the current representation arrangements are:

1. To reflect the establishment of a Māori ward (in accordance with Council’s resolution on 25 October 2023);
2. For the minor boundary alterations to the Plains General Ward and Paeroa General Ward, to ensure the population that each general ward councillor represents is within the range of 1,914 +/- 10% (1,722 - 2,105) in compliance with section 19V(2) of the Local Electoral Act 2001;
3. The reason the total number of councillors is proposed to reduce to 12 (from 13) [plus the mayor] is to provide more effective representation to Hauraki District residents and ratepayers (whilst still ensuring accessibility to a large area made up of populated towns and villages and sparsely populated rural areas).

Submissions

The initial proposal has been submitted for formal consultation, including inviting written submissions for any interested person or organisation in the period from 3 May to 7 June 2024. Submissions should state your name, address, telephone number and email address (if you have one) and should reach the Council no later than 4.30pm on Friday 7 June 2024.