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Representation Review 2028

Every six years, each Council in New Zealand is required to consider how the community it serves is best represented at local government level.

This is called a Representation Review. Invercargill City Council is required to carry out one of these reviews this triennium. Our Representation Review must be completed by April 2028.

A Representation Review looks at:

  • Should we have Wards, with Councillors each elected to represent a specific part of the city?
  • Should Councillors be elected 'at large' to represent the whole city? (This is our current approach.)
  • How many Councillors do we need? Invercargill City Council currently elects 12 Councillors.
  • Do we need Community Boards? Bluff currently has one - are there other areas that should, too?

Council has started pre-engagement for this work, and will formally start this process later in 2026/early in 2027.

We acknowledge that this work will also depend on the outcome of both the Government's Head Start initiative (that looks to amalgamate Councils throughout the country), and the Local Government Commission reorganisation review being undertaken throughout Southland. Council will continue to update the community as this work progresses.

Every three years, Council is also able to review the voting system our community uses.

There are two options available: Single Transferrable Vote (STV) and First Past the Post (FPP). In 2025, Council used FPP.

Council will make its decision on the voting system it will use for the 2028 elections, at its August 2026 meeting.

If the community disagrees with its decision, the public can seek a Poll to challenge the outcome. This would require five percent of enrolled voters within our community to sign a petition, to request a Poll be held. More information about this process will be made available once Council has made its decision.

If you would like to learn more, click here to watch a briefing regarding STV and FPP presented to Council.

Every three years, Council is also able to ask our community if it wishes to establish a Māori ward.

Invercargill currently does not have a Māori ward.

If a Māori ward was established, one Māori ward Councillor would be elected by those voters on the Māori roll. Those on the general roll would elect Invercargill's remaining Councillors. All voters would cast their vote for Mayor.

Council will also make its decision regarding the inclusion of a Māori ward at its August 2026 meeting.

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