People icons and Selwyn District

The way our district is structured is changing

As Selwyn grows and changes, the numbers of our elected members and electoral ward boundaries (the areas each councillor is elected from) need to keep up with our growing population.

What is a Representation Review?

A representation review looks at how many people live in particular sections of the district, and considers how many councillors need to be elected for that area to be appropriately represented.

Since our last review in 2021, Selwyn’s population has grown by around 13% and we now have an uneven number of people that each councillor represents.

All New Zealand councils must complete a representation review every six years.

Because of the quick rate that Selwyn is growing, we need to have a representation review more often. This serves the community better, and aligns with two key principles mandated by the Local Electoral Act 2001 Act:

  1. The ‘effective representation of communities of interest’
  2. ‘fair representation of electors’

We’re undertaking a representation review and seeking your feedback on how our community is represented in Selwyn. This means, we’re reviewing ward boundaries, the number of wards, and how many councillors represent a ward.

How are we Currently Represented?

Following the most recent election in 2022, the Council is currently made up of:

1 Mayor – Elected at large

10 Councillors – Elected from four wards:

  1. Ellesmere (2 Councillors, includes Dunsandel, Doyleston, Leeston, and Southbridge)
  2. Malvern (2 Councillors, includes Hororata, Coalgate, Glentunnel, Darfield, Kirwee, Sheffield, and Springfield)
  3. Rolleston (3 Councillors, includes Rolleston, West Melton and Burnham)
  4. Springs (3 Councillors, includes Prebbleton, Lincoln, Tai Tapu, and Springston)

Read more about Selwyn's current electoral ward maps and boundaries.

Some changes have been proposed to Selwyn's representation ahead of the next local election and we are seeking community feedback

This includes:

  • Two options for alternative ward boundaries with different numbers of councillors
  • Naming the wards. We want you to be involved in selecting names that reflect the district today and who we want to be into the future

You can view the options here including searching any address and seeing how the options would look.

Have Your Say

We want to know what you think. Are there enough councillors representing you and your part of the district? Do you live within the boundaries of one of the proposed new wards and have a great idea for its new name?

Between 2 April and 2 May, you can have your say.

Visit Your Say Selwyn and tell us what you think.