Representation Review 2024
To ensure we have fair and effective representation for our community we’re reviewing the Council’s representation arrangements, ahead of the 2025 local government elections.
The Local Electoral Act 2001 requires us to undertake a review at least once every six years.
The representation review will determine the:
- total number of Environment Southland councillors (elected members)
- number of councillors per constituency
- boundaries and names of constituencies.
As part of the review we need to consider:
- Fair representation – requires that each elected member represent about the same number of people (within +/- 10 percent of the region's population divided by the total number of Councillors).
- Effective representation – the number of councillors in relation to things such as the size and geography of the south, the diversity of our people and the councillors’ ability to represent their constituency and ensure matters important to their constituency are heard.
- Communities of interest – looking at boundaries for representation, which consider:
- A sense of belonging to an area that is distinct from other places.
- An ability for the community to provide services.
- An ability to represent the interests of the community.
- Territorial authority and/or territorial authority ward boundaries.
Current arrangements
Currently Environment Southland (your regional council) is made up of 12 councillors representing six constituencies and a population of 103,870 (2023 Population Estimates). By law the minimum number of councillors for a regional council is 6 and the maximum is 14.
Councillors Constituency (area)
Councillors | Constituency (area) | Population | Population per Councillor |
2 | Eastern - Dome | 17,350 | 8,675 |
1 | Fiordland | 4,660 | 4,660 |
1 | Hokonui | 8,210 | 8,210 |
6 | Invercargill - Rakiura | 58,300 | 9,717 |
1 | Southern | 7,120 | 7,210 |
1 | Western | 8,230 | 8,320 |
Constituency Map (area of representation)
What is the process for the representation review?
Preliminary community feedback
The first step of our representation review involves listening to our communities and learning what they think representation should look like at Environment Southland. We want to hear what you think about the current arrangements and whether any changes should be made.
A short survey is available for you to provide us with your feedback. You have until 10 May to provide your views. For those that wish to provide feedback non-digitally hardcopies of the survey are available from our office at the corner of Price Street and North Road, Invercargill.
Initial Proposal
Council will consider feedback from the preliminary survey, other engagement, and community information in determining an ‘Initial Proposal’. This will present the proposed representation arrangements for the next six years, including any changes and will be formally consulted on later this year.
Community feedback from that consultation will be used by Council to determine a final proposal.
Final Proposal
The final proposal will be advertised. If any objections or appeals are received or where a final proposal does not comply with the requirements for achieving fair representation, the Local Government Commission will make a final decision about representation.
Representation Review timeline (indicative dates)
- Preliminary consultation - April-May
- Initial Proposal - July
- Consultation opens - July
- Consultation closes - August
- Final Proposal - September
- Objection Period - September-October