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Thank you to those who submitted their feedback on the representation review.

Council will consider the community's feedback before making a decision on any potential changes. If the decision is made to proceed with a representation review, an 'Initial Proposal' will be developed for formal consultation in July/August 2024.

What is the representation review?

Local elections are usually held every three years so you can decide who will represent you at the Council table and on the community boards. To make sure that residents have fair and effective representation, all councils must review their representation arrangements at least every six years.

Waipā District Council last undertook a representation review in 2021 in preparation for the 2022 elections. The focus of this review is to better understand how people want to be represented around the Council table, and if there is an opportunity to make changes to the ward structure or to the number of councillors.

What is the current situation?

At present, the Council is made up of the mayor, who is elected by all voters in the district and 11 councillors, who are elected by voters within each of the five existing wards: Cambridge (4), Maungatautari (1), Pirongia-Kakepuku (2), Te Awamutu-Kihikihi (3); and the Waipā Māori Ward (1).

There are two community boards, one representing Cambridge and one representing Te Awamutu-Kihikihi. We are not proposing change or asking for feedback on community boards in this process.

We are not proposing change or asking for feedback on the Māori Ward at this time, as this is subject to a different process.