Representation Review

On this page you'll find information on what the representation review is all about and what changes the independent panel have proposed.

An independent panel undertook community engagement in late 2023 and early 2024 to look at the representation arrangements for Hutt City Council and community boards.

On 27 June 2024 Council reviewed the panel’s initial proposal and resolved that the following changes be recommended. We’re now seeking public feedback on the proposal, which would take effect at the elections in October 2025. 

Council representation

It is proposed that Hutt City Council is made up of a mayor and 13 councillors:

• 5 councillors elected at-large from across the city
• 1 councillor elected from Mana Kairangi ki Tai Māori Ward, covering the whole city
• 7 councillors elected from 5 general wards

See Map for proposed General Ward boundary changes

The population that councillors will represent is as follows:

In accordance with section 19V(2), of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the population that each councillor represents must be within the range of 14,471 +/-10% (13,024 to 15,918), unless particular community of interest considerations justify otherwise.

Wainuiomata General Ward doesn’t meet the requirement for fair representation based on the +/-10% rule. Under consideration of section 19V(3) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, the panel considered it necessary to avoid dividing this community of interest between wards or, uniting within one ward, communities of interest with few commonalities.

Community board representation

It is proposed that there be no community boards in Lower Hutt and the three existing community boards be disestablished.

Changes to wards

• Expand the Northern General Ward to include:
  1. all of Avalon north of Fariway Drive and Daysh Street,
  2. all of Naenae north of the part of Naenae Road between Cambridge Terrace and Waddington Drive,
  3. also including properties on Hamerton Street and between this street and Naenae Road.
• Expand the Central General Ward to include:
  1. all of Alicetown and Melling (all properties within the area between Wakefield Street, Western Hutt Road, Melling Link and Te Awa Kairangi Hutt River)
  2. the area of Woburn south of Whites Line West (all properties on the southern side of this road and also on Richmond Grove, Fuller Grove, Saulbrey Grove and Trevethick Grove)
  3. the area of Waiwhetū south of Whites line East (all properties on the southern side of this road on all road off White Lines East to the south, including those off Leighton Avenue, Bell Road and Wainui Road as far as and including Riverside Drive)
• the current Eastern Ward is disestablished (because of expansion of the Northern and Central General Wards)
• the current Harbour Ward is reduced (because of expansion of the Central General Ward)
• the current Western Ward is reduced (because of expansion of the Central General Ward)

Costs

Adding an extra councillor in Lower Hutt, as proposed, won't affect rates or council budgets. The Remuneration Authority sets out the total pool of money available for all councils in New Zealand to pay its councillors (this is based on the assessed size of the council governance role). This means the overall pool of money stays the same and Council would need to reallocate the existing funds to accommodate an additional councillor.

Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt Electoral Population

According to information available to Councils from Statistics New Zealand, our total Electoral Population is 114,000; General Electoral Population - 101,300 and Māori Electoral Population - 12,700.

Further information

On this page you’ll find the following supporting information:

• Maps of proposed ward boundaries
• FAQs to help you with any queries you may have
• A full copy of the proposal prepared by the panel

Have your say

Below is a Feedback Form where you can share your thoughts on the initial proposal.

You can also email us at haveyoursay@huttcity.govt.nz, or find a paper survey at a local Neighbourhood Hub.

Drop-in sessions are scheduled at a range of Neighbourhood Hubs where you can ask questions and discuss the proposal - find dates and times on this page.

Consultation opens Monday 1 July and closes midnight Thursday 1 August.