16.1.1 Representation arrangements
Representation arrangements relate to the way that councillors and local board members are elected.
The council is required to conduct representation reviews at least once every six years [1]. The council is currently carrying out a representation review in time for the 2025 election [2].
The review must be conducted in accordance with the timeframes set out in legislation [3].
Representation arrangements that must be reviewed include [4]:
- the number of councillors
- if councillors are elected on a ward (division of the district) basis, or for the district as a whole
- if applicable, the name and boundaries of each ward and the number of councillors to be elected in each ward
- minor local board boundary changes
- if local board members are elected on a subdivision (division of the local board area) basis or for the local board area as a whole, and the number of members in each local board (between five and 12 [5])
- if applicable, the name and boundaries of local board subdivisions, and the number of members to be elected in each subdivision
- the names of local boards.
Councils also have a power to consider dividing the district into one or more Māori wards for electoral purposes [6].
Auckland Council’s boundaries, the number of local boards and any significant changes to local board boundaries can be reviewed only through a local government reorganisation process.