How you are represented

Palmerston North City Council is made up of a Mayor and 15 Councillors.

The Mayor is elected by all voters, whether they are on the general or Māori roll.

There are two wards (areas) that represent the whole city:

  • Te Hirawanui General Ward – 13 councillors elected by people on the general electoral roll
  • Te Pūao Māori Ward – 2 councillors elected by people on the Māori electoral roll

Palmerston North does not have community boards.

These representation arrangements were reviewed in 2021 and confirmed by Council after consulting with the community.

Establishment of Te Pūao Māori Ward

Council agreed to create the Te Pūao Māori ward in 2021 for the 2022 local government election, to ensure Māori have a voice in Council decisions.

A government-mandated referendum on whether to retain Te Pūao Māori ward in Palmerston North was held alongside the local government election in October 2025. Palmerston North voted to keep its Māori ward (2 seats) by 13373 for and 10718 against. Te Pūao Māori ward is guaranteed to remain for the 2028 and 2031 elections

Find out more details on the results of the 2025 local elections

Review of Representation Arrangements

The Council is required to review its representation arrangements at least once every six years. Council is due to review its representation arrangements in 2027.

The review will include the following:

  • The number of elected members (within the legal requirement to have a minimum of six and a maximum of 30 members, including the Mayor).
  • Whether the elected members (other than the Mayor) shall be elected by the entire City, or whether the City will be divided into wards for electoral purposes, or whether there will be a mix of ‘city-wide’ and ‘ward’ representation.
  • If election by wards is preferred, then the boundaries and names of those wards and the number of members that will represent each ward.
  • Whether to have community boards and if so, how many, their boundaries and membership and whether to subdivide a community for electoral purposes.

During a representation review, the public has the right to make a written submission to the Council and to be heard if desired.

Members of the public have the right to appeal any decisions made to the Local Government Commission, which will make a binding decision on the appeal. Further details on the matters that the Council must consider in reviewing its membership and basis of election can be found in the Local Electoral Act 2001.

The re-organisation Process

A re-organisation application is separate from a representation review, which, as described above, looks at governance arrangements within the Council.

Schedule 3 of the Local Government Act 2002 sets out procedures which must be followed for local government re-organisation proposals to do any or all of the following:

  • amalgamate districts or regions
  • create a new district or region
  • dissolve a district or region
  • make changes to the boundaries of a district or region
  • transfer a particular function or functions to another council
  • create a unitary authority.

The process begins with an application to the Chief Executive of the Local Government Commission from any person, body or group, including one or more affected local authorities or the Minister of Local Government. If the application is from a group of electors, it must include evidence of support for the proposal from at least 10% of electors in the affected area. Any proposals for reorganisation are listed on the Local Government Commission website.

Once the Local Government Commission has completed its process of consultation and issued a final proposal A poll of electors on the re-organisation plan must be held in the affected area if the re-organisation plan relates to one of the following:

  • the union of districts or regions
  • the creation of a new district or region, including a new local authority for that district or region
  • the abolition of a district or region, including the local authority for that district or region
  • the assumption by a territorial authority of the powers of a regional council as a unitary authority
  • the transfer from one local authority to another of:
    responsibilities in relation to water services or transport services
    responsibilities, duties and powers under the Resource Management Act 1991

A poll of electors will not be held on re-organisation plans solely involving boundary alterations; the establishment of joint committees or the establishment, abolition or alterations to local board areas and local boards.

Further information on these requirements can be found in the Local Government Act 2002. The Local Government Commission has also prepared guidelines on procedures for local government reorganisation.

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