Current Structure

Far North District Council currently has four wards and three community boards. Members of community boards represent subdivisions within each community board.

The council has 10 councillors and 19 community board members. Far North residents elect councillors to make decisions on their behalf. With their mandate from electors, councillors must make decisions based on what is the best for the district as a whole. Councillors should be transparent and accountable, working together to make decisions.

Community boards are closely connected to their respective communities. Members are elected according to subdivisions and their role is to represent and advocate for the interests of their community.

The number of councillors and community board members in each ward or subdivision is based on the number of people living in each area. Each elected member should represent a similar number of people.

Current Arrangements

Mayor: elected district-wide

10 Councillors elected from 4 wards:

• Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori Ward (four Māori ward councillors elected district-wide)
• Bay of Islands-Whangaroa General Ward (three councillors)
• Kaikohe-Hokianga General Ward (one councillor)
• Te Hiku General Ward (two councillors)

19 community board members elected from three subdivided community boards:

• Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board (seven members), made up of:
  • Kawakawa-Moerewa Subdivision (one member)
  • Kerikeri Subdivision (two members)
  • Paihia Subdivision (one member)
  • Russell-Ōpua Subdivision (one member)
  • Waipapa Subdivision (one member)
  • Whangaroa Subdivision (one member)
• Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board (six members), made up of:
  • Kaikohe Subdivision (three member)
  • North Hokianga Subdivision (one member)
  • South Hokianga Subdivision (two members)
• Te Hiku Community Board (six members), made up of:
  • Doubtless Bay Subdivision (one member)
  • Kaitāia Subdivision (three members)
  • North Cape Subdivision (one member)
  • Whatuwhiwhi Subdivision (one member)

The number of councillors and community board members in each ward or subdivision is based on the number of people living in each area. Each elected member should represent a similar number of people.