Public notice: Southland District Council - Representation Review 2025

Under section 19V(6) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the Commission upholds the decision of the Southland District Council not to comply with section 19V(2) in respect of the following electoral areas:

a) Ōreti Ward, as compliance would limit effective representation of communities of interest by dividing between wards the communities of Drummond, Waikana and Munro Roads, and the southern Hokonui Hills that have functional connections to Ōreti Ward for schooling, sports and social activities; and the community of Taramoa that shares defining geographic characteristics with Waiau Aparima Ward.

b) Waihōpai Toetoe Ward, as compliance would limit effective representation of communities of interest by dividing between wards the communities of interest near the Ward boundary that have functional connections with the Waihōpai Toetoe Ward for schooling, sports and community facilities.

c) Stewart Island/Rakiura Ward, to ensure effective representation of island communities.

d) Parawa-Fairlight Subdivision of the Northern Community Board, to avoid combining the Athol and Garston communities of interest which orient towards Central Otago, with communities in the Mid Dome Subdivision from which they are geographically separated and share few commonalities of interest.

e) West Dome Subdivision of the Northern Community Board, as compliance would limit effective representation of communities of interest by dividing the wider Mossburn community of interest that is defined by distinct geographic boundaries and shares an orientation towards Te Anau.

f) Makarewa Subdivision of the Ōreti Community Board, as compliance would limit effective representation of communities of interest by dividing the Taramoa community of interest from coastal communities with which it shares commonalities of interest. 

Accordingly, for at least the triennial general election of the Southland District Council to be held on 11 October 2025, the following representation arrangements will apply:

a) Southland District, as delineated on Plan LG-073-2025-W-1 will be divided into wards and will be represented by a Council comprising the mayor and 12 councillors elected as follows:

b) There will be nine communities with community boards as follows:

*Number of members elected by the electors of each community or community subdivision

The ratio of population to elected members for each ward will be as follows:

*Based on Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa 2023 population estimates 

The Fiordland, Ardlussa, Tuatapere Te Waewae, Wallace Takitimu, Ōraka Aparima, Waihōpai Toetoe, and Stewart Island/Rakiura Community Boards will not be subdivided for electoral purposes. The population they each represent will be as follows:

*Based on Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa 2023 population estimates
^Not including appointed members

The Northern and Ōreti community boards will be subdivided for electoral purposes. The ratio of population to elected members for each subdivision will be as follows:

*Based on Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa 2023 population estimates
^Not including appointed members

As required by sections 19T(1)(b) and 19W(c) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the boundaries of the above wards, community boards, and subdivisions 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: Recent Determinations - Local Government Commission (lgc.govt.nz)

Penny Langley
Chief Executive Officer