The early engagement feedback gave us an understanding of what the community wanted and how they would feel best represented with the introduction of Māori ward(s). The early engagment helped us put together the initial proposal that effectively and fairly meets the needs of the community. 

The formal submission period is asking if you support the initial proposal. These submissions will be taken into account by Council and the Local Government Commission (if applicable). This process also gives people the opportunity to present their views (submission) to the Mayor and elected members.

The outcome of this formal submission process, will then inform the final proposal at the end of September 2024. 

Council has considered all the feedback from the early engagement and are proposing:  

• Mixed system (combination model) which was supported by 60% of respondents in the early engagement   

comprising: the Mayor; Two councillors elected ‘at large’ district-wide; Three Councillors representing the Māori Ward and Three councillors representing the General Ward 

• Maintain eight councillors and the Mayor (supported by 75% of the respondents who gave feedback in the early engagement process) 

• No community board (supported by 70% of respondents who gave feedback)  

Feedback from the community conveyed that elected members and the Mayor can and do effectively represent the community without duplication of roles of a community board. Another reason was that the increased costs of adding a community board were not necessary as the councillors were already doing this job well.

During the early engagement period From March to April 2024, 60% of the respondents wanted council to investigate the mixed system, with the belief that voters on both the Māori and general roll can have a greater say in electing councillors who would represent their interests in the district. 
Feedback from the community reflected that irrespective of individual views regarding Māori wards, the mixed system (combination model) offered open and transparent democracy with two ‘at large’ (district-wide) seats, while still providing for specific Māori representation. 
The decision to adopt the initial proposal was made on Wednesday, 17 July 2024 at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council and was unanimous. 

• A person on the Māori electoral roll will be able to vote for: 

 o The Mayor 

o Canidates standing “at large” 

 o Canidates standing for the Māori ward(s)  

• A person on the general electoral roll may vote for:  

o The Mayor  

o Canidates standing “at large” 

o Canidates standing for the general ward(s)  

In a wards model

A person on the Māori electoral roll can vote for:

• The Mayor
• Candidates running for the Māori ward(s)

A Person on the general electoral roll can vote for:

• The Mayor
• Candidates running for the General ward(s)

For the past year we have been talking to our community about the electoral process, with elected members voting to:   

(1) retain the First Past the Post (FPP) voting system on 6 September 2023   

(2) introduce Māori ward(s) on 22 November 2023

As Council voted to introduce Māori ward(s) in November 2023, in addition to general ward(s), we now need to consider how we best represent community voices at the council table with Māori ward(s) included. 

(3) The representation review is the third and final step of the process required before the 2025 elections that will be held on 11 October 2025.  

The introduction of Māori ward(s) means we will have changes to the current representation. This means that there has been another 'ward' added to the district.    

Following the early engagement feedback, Council adopted the 'initial proposal' of how elected members will represent the district on Wednesday 17 July 2024. There is now the formal consultation and submission period from 22 July 2024 through to 26 August 2024.  

Our Council has already made two related decisions which are not part of this engagement process: 

• The First Past the Post (FPP) electoral system is being retained for the 2025 elections. 
• Māori ward councillors will be established for at least the 2025 elections  

Please note:  

The coalition government is progressing the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Bill which will bring back the poll (or referendum) provisions for Māori wards so a poll is likely to be required with the 2025 local elections.

The outcome of the poll would apply for the 2028 and 2031 local elections. This may mean the Māori ward(s) may be in place for one term depending on the outcome of the 2025 poll; another representation review may then be required in 2027 (for 2028).

If Council choose to rescind their resolution to establish Māori wards once the Bill is passed (expected to be end of July 2024), this would impact on the current representation review and initial and final proposals, if already resolved.

Online survey via the Council website kaweraudc.govt.nz or Facebook.com/KawerauDistrictCouncil  

Hard copy surveys can be handed into the isite, library or Council offices 

Email submissions@kaweraudc.govt.nz  

Formal submissions run from Monday 22 July - Monday 26 August 2024

No, the pool of remuneration (cost) stays the same regardless of the number of councillors. The Remuneration Authority sets this budget for the district.  The only increase in costs would be if the community wanted a community board, this would be an additional (and unbudgeted) cost. 

Yes. The introduction of Māori ward(s) - means the district will have:  

• General ward(s) seats elected by people on the general electoral roll 

• Māori ward(s) seats elected by people on the Māori electoral roll  

• There is also the option of having some councillors elected 'at large' by everyone  which is the system that the Council has adopted in the initial proposal. The reason for adopting this system, was that 60% of the respondents from the early engagement supported Council investigating this option. The reasoning stated was that it would enable all electors (voters) on the general roll and the Māori roll to have a greater say in electing councillors who would represent their interests in the district. Feedback stated that irrespective of individual views on the introduction of Māori ward(s) the mixed system offered open and transparent democracy with two 'at large' (district-wide) seats, while still providing for specific Māori representation with three Māori ward councillors at the table that would honour council's decision to introduce specific Māori representation.  

An elector is someone who is eligible to vote. 

This means the person must be aged 18 or over on election day of 11 october 2025.

This is a person who is standing for election for a particular ward. These are the people or 'candidates' you can vote for in the next election. Under the initial proposal, people can stand for:

• The Mayor 
• An 'at large' district wide councillor
• A general ward councillor
• A Māori ward councillor

In mid-2025, there will be a call for people who wish to stand for council. 
A candidates’ meeting will be held to ensure that everyone who is considering putting their name forward for election understands what is required and what the role of a councillor or Mayor entails. 
The first step (in 2025) will be to complete an application form and have two people nominate you. The people who endorse your nomination, need to be on the same electoral roll as the ward you are standing for. 

What that means is: 
If you are standing for the Kawerau general ward seat – you will need two people to nominate you, who are listed on the general electoral roll. 
If you are standing for the Kawerau Māori ward seat – you will need two people to nominate you, who are listed on the Māori electoral roll. 
If you are standing for the two ‘at large’ seats – you will need two people to nominate you who are listed on either the Kawerau Māori electoral roll and/or the Kawerau general electoral roll. 

The people who nominate candidates, must reside in the area and that the candidate is standing for and must be on the same electoral roll that the person is standing for. 
The candidate, does not have to reside in the district, or be on the same electoral roll as they are standing for -  but both of their nominees must be on that electoral roll.

A person standing for election in the 2025 local council elections for Kawerau can stand for only one ward, but they may choose to also stand for the Mayor, as follows: 

•  Mayor 

(All voters can vote for the Mayor)
OR

• Mayor, and ‘At Large’ Councillor 

(all voters, on the Māori electoral roll and the General electoral roll, can vote for the Mayor)
OR

• Mayor, and, Kawerau General Ward councillor  

OR

•  Mayor, and, Kawerau Māori Ward councillor 

OR

•  ‘At Large’ Councillor 

(all voters, on the Māori electoral roll and the General electoral roll, can vote for ‘At Large’ candidates) 
OR

•  Kawerau Māori Ward councillor 

(voters can only vote for these candidates if they are on the Māori electoral roll)
OR 

•  Kawerau General Ward councillor 

(voters can only vote for these candidates if they are on the general electoral roll) 

In the Mixed 'combination model' system with six councillors elected from a Māori ward and a general ward, and two councillors elected 'at large' district wide. 

Everyone in the electoral population will vote for the Mayor and the 'at large' district wide councillors. If you are in the Māori electoral roll you will vote for three Māori ward councillors if you are in the general electoral roll you will vote for three general ward councillors.

Community boards typically represent a smaller geographic area or ‘community of interest’ within their council/kaunihera, to ensure smaller communities’ voices aren’t lost in the big picture conversations | kōrero. 

There are now around 110 community boards in Aotearoa, ranging in size from those representing only a few hundred residents to more than 60,000 residents.   

Most members are elected during local body elections although council | kaunihera members can also be appointed to a community board. Note: this would entail an extra cost as currently Kawerau district does not have any community boards.  

No, with the introduction of Māori ward(s) - Kawerau will have seats at the council table representing general and Māori ward(s).  

The Māori Electoral Population is currently 3,430 people or 43.86% of the total electoral population in the district. The General Electoral Population is currently 4,390 people or 56.14% of the total electoral population in the district. 

These statistics are used to determine the number of councillors representing Māori and general wards. For example, if we have a total of seven councillors, three will represent the Māori ward(s), and four will represent the general ward(s). 

Generally wards are geographic areas of an area that an elected member represents (i.e., coastal ward in Ōpōtiki) that represent a specific area of interest (in this case it is a rural area of people who are living by coast). In an urban area, such as large cities, it could be a suburb etc within a city. 
Given Kawerau is small geographically, the community has not seen the need for wards on a geographic basis. 
However, now that there is Māori  representation the district will have General Wards and Māori wards. 

A Māori ward is one way for Māori electoral roll voters, which are a defined community of interest, to be effectively represented under legislation. Instead of grouping electors by geographic location like other wards, all electors (voters) who are on the Māori electoral roll would vote in the Māori ward(s).  

Anyone can stand for election in a Māori ward, but they cannot stand for both a general and a Māori ward at the same time. Candidates in Māori ward(s) do not have to be of Māori descent, but they need to be nominated by two people on the Māori electoral roll in the area they are standing. 

Anyone can stand for election in a general ward, but they cannot stand for both a general and Māori ward at the same time. The person needs to be nominated by two people on the general electoral roll in the area they are standing. 

These councillors are elected by all voters within the district – in the same way that everyone can vote for the mayor. In Kawerau, we previously elected all our councillors ‘at large,’ but the introduction of Māori ward(s) means we will now have both Māori and general wards.  

It is possible to have a system that comprises a mixture of Māori and General ward councillors and ‘at large’ councillors. For instance, our mayor is already elected ‘at large’ by everyone, and these other ‘at large’ seats would also be elected by everyone on the electoral roll.