In July and August 2024, we asked for your views about our proposed changes to how elected members represent Aucklanders in the 2025 local elections.
Public consultation for this proposal closed on 8 August 2024. We received feedback from:
- 2359 members of the public
- 19 local boards. The Local Government Commission (LGC) has now released its final decision.
Thank you for having your say.
Representation review explained
Elected members are voted for by Aucklanders to represent them in council matters. In Auckland, elected members currently include:
- a mayor elected from across the whole region
- 20 ward councillors elected by voters from 13 wards
- 149 local board members elected by voters from 21 local boards.
We review the way elected members represent Aucklanders every six years. The review needs to ensure the way we represent our communities is fair and effective.
A representation review looks at:
- the total number of councillors and local board members in the Auckland region
- if councillors are elected from wards or from across the whole Auckland region
- if local board members are elected from subdivisions (smaller geographical areas within local boards) or from across the whole local board area
- the names and boundaries of wards and local boards.
Final representation decisions for 2025
Process
In October to November 2024, we received a total of 18 appeals and objections to our final proposal. These were referred to the LGC for their determination (decision).
To learn more about the hearing process for a representation review, visit Representation review resources - Local Government Commission on the LGC website.
Watch a recording of the February 2025 Local Government Commission representation review hearing.
Decisions
On 14 March 2025, the LGC released its final decisions for how elected members will represent Aucklanders in the 2025 local elections.
The main decisions made by the LGC are:
- Central Auckland Wards
- The LGC upholds the arrangements in the council's initial proposal. Parnell and Newmarket will return to the Waitematā and Gulf Ward and St Johns will return to the Ōrākei Ward.
- North Shore/Albany Wards
- The LGC upholds the arrangements in the council’s initial and final proposal.
- Rodney
- The LGC upholds the arrangements in the council's final proposal.
- Howick
- The LGC upholds the arrangements in the council’s initial and final proposal.
- Non-compliance and minor boundary changes
- The LGC upholds the arrangements in the council’s initial and final proposal.
Read about the decisions in full
To read the new representation arrangements in full, download Determination of representation arrangements to apply for the election of Auckland Council to be held on 11 October 2025 [PDF 1.7MB] on the LGC website.
Summary of decisions
An overview of the confirmed changes to existing representation arrangements for the 2025 local elections.
| Area of change | Confirmed changes |
| Total number of councillors (20) | No change |
| Wards and boundaries | Central Auckland ward boundaries
North Shore ward boundaries: Bayview will move from Albany to North Shore Ward. |
| Number of local board members | 151 local board members:
|
| Names of local boards | No change |
| Number of subdivisions and boundaries | New subdivisions in Rodney Local Board:
New subdivision in Howick Local Board:
|
Boundary and
subdivision maps
We are developing maps to show changes to boundaries and subdivisions. We will share the maps with elected members and the public later this year as part of our communications for the 2025 local elections.
Further comments from the LGC
In addition to the representation arrangements for the Auckland Council 2025 local elections, the LGC made the following comments in their final determination:
”In addition, we have pointed out the desirability of the council considering specific matters in the future. Accordingly, we strongly recommend that the council:
- undertakes a comprehensive review of local board representation arrangements and ensures a local board reorganisation process is completed ahead of the next representation review. Both processes should be completed prior to the same local election, to minimise the potential of confusion for voters.
- explores all reasonable options for compliance where non-compliant wards or local board subdivisions exist or are proposed. This includes specific engagement allowing analysis of any consequences for the effective representation of communities of interest
- as part of the next review, focuses on the appropriate location of the Albany/North Shore Ward boundary, ensuring that in-depth engagement occurs with all relevant communities.”
What happens next
The new representation arrangements will be in place for the
2025 local elections. They will apply for the next six years, unless we hold
another review for the 2028 local elections.
