Council seeking feedback for Representation Review

Published on 28 March 2024

Council is seeking feedback from Upper Hutt’s communities on whether they feel they are being represented effectively and fairly, this process is known as a Representation Review. Council is required to undertake this review every six years.

 Council is seeking feedback on important topics like the number of councillors, specific details about wards, including their names, the number of councillors per ward, and boundaries and community boards. 

Mayor Wayne Guppy says Council aims to gather valuable feedback to shape the governance landscape to benefit Upper Hutt’s diverse communities. 

"Making sure the community feels fairly and effectively represented is important to us, I strongly encourage the community to have their say,” he says. 

The current representation on Council includes a mayor and councillors, with periodic reviews mandated by law.  

This is the third phase of the review, following decisions by Council to include at least one Māori ward and that the election will be conducted using the 'first past the post' system. 

To conduct this assessment, Mayor Guppy says a comprehensive understanding of the diverse communities of Upper Hutt is imperative.  

“Council has initiated a survey, focusing on residents' affiliations with specific communities and their awareness of the existing representation arrangements,” he says. 

Questions range from the current number of councillors and their election processes to preferences for potential future representation structures such as wards and community boards.

 The survey results will guide a proposal for Council approval in July, followed by further public consultation. Any changes that come from the review will be implemented in time for the council elections in 2025. 

To complete the survey, click here

Public engagement is encouraged and will remain open until Friday, April 5th.