Public notice: Timaru District Council - Representation Review 2025
In accordance with section 19R of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Local Government Commission has determined the representation arrangements for the election of the Timaru District Council to be held on 11 October 2025.
Under section 19V(6) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Commission upholds the decision of Timaru District Council not to comply with section 19V(2) in respect of the Geraldine Ward, as compliance would limit effective representation of communities of interest by dividing communities of interest between wards, being the Kakahu, Orari and Rangitata Island communities from the Geraldine community, with which they share strong perceptual and functional connections.
Accordingly, for at least the triennial general election of the Timaru District Council to be held on 11 October 2025, the following representation arrangements will apply:
a. Timaru District, as delineated on Plan LG-064-2013-W-1 will be divided into wards and will be represented by a Council comprising the mayor and nine councillors elected as follows:
| Ward | Councillors | Plan delineating area |
| Geraldine Ward | 1 | SO 19948 |
| Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward | 2 | LG-064-2013-W-2 |
| Timaru Ward | 6 | SO 19947 |
b. There will be three communities with community boards:
| Community/ Community Board | Area | Members* | Appointed members |
| Geraldine Community, comprising the area of the Geraldine Ward | As delineated on Plan SO 19948 | 6 | 1, representing the Geraldine Ward |
| Pleasant-Point Community, comprising part of the Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward | The area comprising the former Pleasant Point Ward, as delineated on former Plan SO 19946 | 5 |
2, representing the Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward |
|
Temuka Community, comprising part of the Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward |
The area comprising the former Temuka Ward, as delineated on former Plan SO 19949 | 5 |
2, representing the Pleasant Point-Temuka Ward |
*number of members elected by the electors of each community
The ratio of population to elected members for each ward will be:
| Wards | Population* | Number of members | Population per member | Deviation from district average population per member | % deviation from district average population per member |
| Geraldine | 6,240 | 1 | 6,240 | 799 | +14.68 |
| Pleasant Point-Temuka | 9,930 | 2 | 4,965 | -476 | -8.75 |
| Timaru | 32,800 | 6 | 5,467 | 26 | +0.47 |
| Total | 48,970 | 9 | 5,441 |
*Based on Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa 2023 population estimates (2018 census base)
The community boards will not be subdivided for electoral purposes. The population they each represent will be:
| Communities | Population* | Number of members^ | Population per member |
| Geraldine Community | 6,240 | 6 | 1,040 |
| Pleasant Point Community | 3,170 | 5 | 634 |
| Temuka Community | 6,760 | 5 | 1,352 |
*Based on Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa 2023 population estimates (2018 census base) ^Not including appointed members
As required by section 19T(b) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the boundaries of the above wards coincide with the boundaries of current statistical meshblock areas determined by Statistics New Zealand and used for Parliamentary electoral purposes.
The determination is available on the Commission’s website: https://www.lgc.govt.nz/representation-reviews/current-determinations/
Penny Langley
Chief Executive Officer