Council consults on voting changes for 2025

Two key voting changes are up for community input to South Wairarapa District Council ahead of formal decisions which will lock them in for next year’s local elections.

The proposal follows an internal SWDC review, which it says: 

“highlighted particular communities of interest, such as our rural and coastal communities which may be under-represented” at the council table. 

This saw the council develop what it calls its “Initial Proposal” for electoral change, offering two possible options:

• a reduction in the number of councillors elected through General Wards, from three

councillors from each ward, to two (a total of six Ward Councillors across the three towns);

• introduction of two councillors at large (voted for by all electors), who sit across the district.

“The proposal to introduce at-large councillors will help support the district as a whole, while

maintaining the important role our ward councillors play in recognising the specific needs of their

communities,” the consultation document notes. 

“It’s important we hear from as many of our residents as possible as their meaningful feedback on how they feel represented in South Wairarapa will help inform our final decision.”

The proposal also includes a Māori Ward with one councillor. Council last November already decided to set up a Māori ward “and will not revisit the decision as part of this consultation.”

Currently, South Wairarapa District Council representation arrangements consist of three General

Wards with three councillors each, three community boards of four to cover the three main towns, and the Mayor. 

The proposed changes mean no increase or reduction in the total nine councillors currently in place, and no change to the community boards. 

At a council committee meeting in late July, a proposal to disestablish the three community boards was rejected.

The council has offered no expanded explanation for its proposed changes to ward councillor numbers (from three to two per ward), or any rationale for moving to “at-large” councillors apart from “helping support the district as a whole.” 

Representation Reviews are legally required every six years to allow Councils to look at existing

representation arrangements and whether they are serving the needs of their communities. 

Any changes to representation arrangements will apply at the 2025 local body elections.

Consultation input closes off on Sunday, 8 September.

Full details at: swdc.govt.nz/representation-review/