Commission confirms District-wide community board coverage
Western Bay of Plenty District will have five community boards covering the District, following the Local Government Commission’s determination on Council’s representation arrangements for the 2025 and 2028 elections.
The Commission has determined a hybrid structure that combines key aspects of Council’s proposed model, but retaining and slightly reshaping the current community board setup to ensure more balanced and inclusive representation.
The final decision will see every resident vote for a Mayor, their Ward Councillor(s), and their Community Board representatives. Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands residents will vote for a Mayor and their Ward Councillor(s), and are not part of a community board area.
Council’s representation review set out to close long-standing gaps in local representation — particularly in the Kaimai and Maketu-Te Puke wards, where around 40 per cent of the District’s population lacked direct access to a community board.
Under the new structure three community boards are retained with limited change:
- Maketu Community Board will continue to represent the township and surrounding area, with a slightly expanded area compared to the current community board boundary to better reflect the community of interest.
- Katikati Community Board is retained with its existing boundary.
- Waihī Beach Community Board is retained with its existing boundary.
And two community boards are extended to cover their respective wider wards, with electoral subdivisions to ensure representation from across the wards. - A new Ōmokoroa–Kaimai Community Board will be established, covering the full Kaimai Ward.
- A new Te Puke–East Community Board will represent Te Puke and the neighbouring eastern communities of Paengaroa, Pongakawa, and Pukehina.
Western Bay Mayor James Denyer welcomes the Commission’s decision, highlighting the benefits for local communities.
“While the Commission’s decision further modifies our final proposal, we’re pleased to see the outcome delivers District-wide community board coverage - something Council and our community strongly supported.
“With five boards now spanning the District, every community will have a stronger and more equitable platform to engage with Council and advocate for what matters most to them.”
In its determination, the Commission noted that throughout the process, it became clear there were compelling reasons both to retain the clearly defined communities of interest identified by appellants and to expand the reach of community boards to ensure coverage across the entire District.
To achieve this, the Commission considered how it could deliver a District-wide community board model that preserves the essence of existing boards while also providing universal access to community-level representation.
What this means for the 2025 elections:
- Every voter will cast three votes: one for Mayor, one for Ward Councillor(s), and Community Board members.
- Council’s structure will consist of a Mayor and a reduced number of nine Councillors:
- Katikati-Waihī Beach Ward – 2 Councillors
- Kaimai Ward – 3 Councillors
- Maketu-Te Puke Ward – 3 Councillors
- Waka Kai Uru (District-wide Māori Ward) – 1 Councillor
- There will be five Community Boards, each with locally elected members and Councillors appointed from their respective ward:
- Katikati Community Board
- 4 elected community board members
- 1 appointed councillor from the Katikati-Waihī Beach General Ward
- Waihī Beach Community Board
- 4 elected community board members
- 1 appointed councillor from the Katikati-Waihī Beach General Ward
- Maketu Community Board
- 4 elected community board members
- 1 appointed councillor from the Maketu-Te Puke General Ward
- Te Puke–Eastern Community Board
- 3 elected community board members from the Te Puke Subdivision
- 2 elected community board members from the Eastern Subdivision
- 2 appointed councillors from the Maketu-Te Puke General Ward
- Ōmokoroa–Kaimai Community Board
- 2 elected community board members from the Ōmokoroa Subdivision
- 2 elected community board members from the Kaimai West Subdivision
- 2 elected community board members from the Kaimai East Subdivision
- 2 appointed councillors from the Kaimai General Ward
- Katikati Community Board
- Electoral subdivisions within the Te Puke-Eastern and Ōmokoroa-Kaimai community board areas will ensure that residents vote for representatives from their own area, meaning local people with local knowledge will be elected to advocate for their communities.
These changes reflect strong community support, a drive for fairer population-based representation, and a shared commitment to more inclusive decision-making. With fewer Councillors and comprehensive coverage by community boards, the new structure aims to enhance both efficiency and equity.
A binding poll will also run alongside the 2025 election, giving the community the final say on whether the Māori Ward should remain in place for future elections.
Mayor Denyer emphasised the importance of clearly communicating these changes.
“This is a significant shift for the District, and it’s important that people clearly understand how the new structure works and what it means for them. It’s also an opportunity to strengthen awareness of how Council operates and the role local government plays in shaping our communities.”
Between now and the October election, Council will review community board functions and delegations to ensure they are equipped to enhance local decision-making and support community-led initiatives. This work will help inform the incoming Council and Mayor as they set delegations and make Councillor appointments to community boards.
“This presents a real opportunity to strengthen local leadership and build a more connected, engaged District. Community boards will be well-positioned to work alongside existing groups, such as ratepayer associations, to ensure local voices are heard,” says Mayor Denyer.
A copy of the determination is on the Commission’s website: Determination-WBOPDC-2025.pdf
