Western Bay of Plenty will keep its five community boards – but the whole district will now be represented by a community board. Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands will be the only residents not represented by a community board.

The Local Government Commission’s decision about Western Bay of Plenty District Council’s (WBoPDC) representation arrangements for the 2025 and 2028 elections was released on Tuesday, April 8.

The commission determined a hybrid structure that combined key aspects of the council’s proposed model, but retained and reshaped the current community board set-up to ensure balanced and inclusive representation, a WBoPDC media release said.

“The final decision will see every resident vote for a mayor, their ward councillor(s), and their community board representatives.”

Close long-standing gaps

“Matakana and Rangiwaea Islands residents will vote for a mayor and their ward councillor(s), and are not part of a community board area,” said the statement.

The 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% of the district’s population lacked direct access to a community board.

Under the new structure, three community boards would stay mostly unchanged.

Maketu Community Board would represent the township and surrounding area, with a slightly expanded area to better reflect the community of interest.

Both Katikati and Waihī Beach Community Boards would keep their existing boundaries.

Two community boards were extended to cover their wider wards.

Full Kaimai ward

A new Ōmokoroa-Kaimai Community Board would be established, covering the full Kaimai Ward.

A new Te Puke–East Community Board would represent Te Puke and the neighbouring eastern communities of Paengaroa, Pongakawa and Pukehina.

Western Bay Mayor James Denyer welcomed the Local Government Commission 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 [the] 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 [the] council and advocate for what matters most to them.”

In its determination, the commission said 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.

Three votes

To achieve this, the commission considered how it could deliver a district-wide community board model that preserved the essence of existing boards while also providing universal access to community-level representation.

For the 2025 elections, every voter would cast three votes: one for mayor, one for ward councillors and one for community board members.

The council’s structure would consist of a mayor and a reduced number of nine councillors, instead of 11 currently.

“These changes reflect strong community support, a drive for fairer, population-based representation and a shared commitment to more inclusive decision-making,” the council statement said.

“With fewer councillors and comprehensive coverage by community boards, the new structure aims to enhance both efficiency and equity.”

A binding poll would also run alongside the 2025 election, giving the community the final say on whether the Māori Ward should remain in place for future elections.

Denyer said: “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 [the] council operates and the role local government plays in shaping our communities.”

Between now and the October election, the council said it would review community board functions and delegations to ensure they were equipped to enhance local decision-making and support community-led initiatives. This work would help inform the incoming council as it sets delegations and makes councillor appointments to community boards.

Real opportunity

“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,” Denyer said.

A copy of the determination is on the commission’s website or Google: determination-wbopdc-2025.pdf.