Waipā representation arrangements confirmed

Waipā District Council’s representation arrangements are now confirmed for the 2025 election.

On October 31, the council gave public notice of its final proposal for representation for next year’s local government elections. That proposal contained only two minor changes from what currently exists.

There will be a minor boundary adjustment to move those living in the Frontier Estate subdivision out of the Pirongia Kakepuku Ward into the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward. This is to meet the legal requirement for all members of the council to represent the same number of people, plus or minus 10 per cent.

The ability has also been given for either urban, rural or Māori Ward councillors to take a seat at the community board table.

Notification of the right to appeal or object to the final proposal was also given. No appeals or objections were received so the final proposal is now confirmed.

At the next elections, Waipā District Council will comprise a mayor elected at large, and 11 councillors: four from Cambridge Ward, three from the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Ward, two from the Pirongia Kakepuku Ward, one from the Maungatautari Ward, and one from the Waipā Māori Ward.

Waipā will also continue to have two community boards. The Cambridge Community Board will have five elected members plus two members appointed from either the Cambridge Ward, the Maungatautari Ward, or the Māori Ward. The Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board will have five elected members and two members appointed from the Te Awamutu Kihikihi Ward, the Pirongia Kakepuku Ward or the Māori Ward. The same minor boundary adjustment made to the ward boundaries has also been made to the community board boundaries.

The decisions were made following the hearing and consideration of 109 submissions to an initial representation review proposal in September. They were confirmed at the council’s October meeting.