How is Council made up?

The five wards

Southland District has a mayor and 12 ward councillors elected from five wards. A ward is a defined area of the District that has been divided for electoral purposes.

The ward system allows for the recognition of communities, and increased community involvement in local government.

Mararoa Waimea - 3 councillors
Waiau Aparima - 3 councillors
Oreti - 3 councillors
Waihopai Toetoe - 2 councillors
Stewart Island/Rakiura - 1 councillor

Communities in the five wards

Mararoa Waimea

Ardlussa, Athol, Balfour, Benmore, Caroline, Cascade Creek, Castlerock, Cattle Flat, Dipton, Dipton West, Five Rivers, Freshford, Garston, Glenaray, Glenure, Hollyford, Jamestown, Josephville, Kingston Crossing, Lintley, Longridge, Longridge North, Lowther, Lumsden, Manapouri, Mandeville, Milford Sound, Mossburn, Nokomai, Otapiri, Otapiri Gorge, Parawa, Potters, Riversdale, Saint Patricks, Sandstone, Te Anau, The Dale, The Key, Waikaia, Waimea, Waiparu, Waipounamu, Wendon, Wendonside

Waiau Aparima

Aparima, Avondale, Bayswater, Birchwood, Blackmount, Clifden, Colac Bay/Oraka, Crawfords, Cromarty, Drummond, Dunearn, Eastern Bush, Ermedale, Fairfax, Feldwick, Five Roads, Gladfield, Gropers Bush, Gummies Bush, Happy Valley, Hazletts, Heddon Bush, Isla Bank, Longwood, Merrivale, Monowai, Nightcaps, Ohai, Opio, Orawia, Orepuki, Otahu Flat, Otahuti, Otaitai Bush, Otautau, Pahia, Papatotara, Piko Piko, Port Craig, Pourakino Valley, Pukemaori, Raymonds Gap, Ringway, Riverton/Aparima, Round Hill, Ruahine, Scotts Gap, Spar Bush, Taramoa, Te Oneroa, Te Tua, Te Waewae, Thornbury, Tihaka, Tinkertown, Tuatapere, Waianiwa, Waihoaka, Waikouro, Waimatuku, Waipango, Wairio, Wakapatu, Woodlaw, Wreys Bush, Wrights BushAparima, Avondale, Bayswater, Birchwood, Blackmount, Clifden, Colac Bay/Oraka, Crawfords, Cromarty, Drummond, Dunearn, Eastern Bush, Ermedale, Fairfax, Feldwick, Five Roads, Gladfield, Gropers Bush, Gummies Bush, Happy Valley, Hazletts, Heddon Bush, Isla Bank, Longwood, Merrivale, Monowai, Nightcaps, Ohai, Opio, Orawia, Orepuki, Otahu Flat, Otahuti, Otaitai Bush, Otautau, Pahia, Papatotara, Piko Piko, Port Craig, Pourakino Valley, Pukemaori, Raymonds Gap, Ringway, Riverton/Aparima, Round Hill, Ruahine, Scotts Gap, Spar Bush, Taramoa, Te Oneroa, Te Tua, Te Waewae, Thornbury, Tihaka, Tinkertown, Tuatapere, Waianiwa, Waihoaka, Waikouro, Waimatuku, Waipango, Wairio, Wakapatu, Woodlaw, Wreys Bush, Wrights BushWaihopai-Toetoe Ward Ashers, Brydone, Bush Siding, Chaslands, Curio Bay, Dacre, Edendale, Fortification, Fortrose, Glenham, Gorge Road, Haldane, Kamahi, Kapuka, Kapuka South, Kennington, Longbush, Mataura Island, Menzies Ferry, Mimihau, Mokoreta, Mokotua, Morton Mains, Niagara, Ota Creek, Otara, Oteramika, Oware, Pine Bush, Progress Valley, Pukewao, Quarry Hills, Redan, Rimu, Seaward Downs, Slope Point, Te Peka, Timpanys, Titiroa, Tokanui, Tuturau, Waiarikiki, Waikawa, Waikawa Valley, Waimahaka, Waimatua, Waituna, Woodlands, WyndhamWinton-Wallacetown Ward Branxholme, Browns, Centre Bush, Gap Road, Glencoe, Grove Bush, Hedgehope, Heenans Corner, Hokonui, Kauana, Lady Barkly, Limehills, Lochiel, Lorneville, Mabel Bush, Makarewa, Makarewa Junction, Northope, Oporo, Oreti Plains, Pukemutu, Rakahouka, Roslyn Bush, Ryal Bush, South Hillend, Springhills, Te Tipua, Thomsons Crossing, Tussock Creek, Waitane, Wallacetown, West Plains, Wilsons Crossing, Winton

Oreti

Ashers, Brydone, Bush Siding, Chaslands, Curio Bay, Dacre, Edendale, Fortification, Fortrose, Glenham, Gorge Road, Haldane, Kamahi, Kapuka, Kapuka South, Kennington, Longbush, Mataura Island, Menzies Ferry, Mimihau, Mokoreta, Mokotua, Morton Mains, Niagara, Ota Creek, Otara, Oteramika, Oware, Pine Bush, Progress Valley, Pukewao, Quarry Hills, Redan, Rimu, Seaward Downs, Slope Point, Te Peka, Timpanys, Titiroa, Tokanui, Tuturau, Waiarikiki, Waikawa, Waikawa Valley, Waimahaka, Waimatua, Waituna, Woodlands, Wyndham

Waihopai Toetoe

Stewart Island/Rakiura

All of Stewart Island/Rakiura, the surrounding Islands and Ruapuke Island

The nine community boards

There are also nine community boards. Council actively promotes local input into decision-making through its nine community boards.

Community board members have a strong relationship with people and organisations in their communities, attend events and act as a local liaison between their community and Council.

Fiordland - Mararoa Waimea ward
Northern - Mararoa Waimea ward - 3 subdivisions - Parawa-Fairlight, West & Mid Dome
Ardlussa - Mararoa Waimea ward
Tuatapere Te Waewae - Waiau Aparima ward
Oraka Aparima - Waiau Aparima ward
Wallace Takitimu - Waiau Aparima ward
Oreti - Oreti ward - 3 subdivisions - Hokonui, Midlands, Makarewa
Waihopai Toetoe - Waihopai Toetoe ward
Stewart Island/Rakiura - Stewart Island/Rakiura ward

Fiordland

Cascade Creek, Hollyford, Jamestown, Manapouri, Milford Sound, Te Anau, The Dale, The Key

Northern

Athol, Castlerock, Five Rivers, Garston, Josephville, Lintley, Lowther, Lumsden, Mossburn, Nokomai, Parawa

Ardlussa

Glenaray, Glenure, Kingston Crossing, Longridge, Longridge North, Mandeville, Potters, Riversdale, Saint Patricks, Sandstone, Waikaia, Waimea, Waiparu, Waipounamu, Wendon, Wendonside

Tuatapere Te Waewae

Birchwood, Blackmount, Clifden, Cromarty, Eastern Bush, Feldwick, Happy Valley, Merrivale, Monkey Island, Monowai, Orawia, Orepuki, Otahu Flat, Pahia, Papatotara, Piko Piko, Port Craig, Pukemaori, Raymonds Gap, Round Hill, Te Oneroa, Te Tua, Te Waewae, Tuatapere, Waihoaka

Oraka Aparima

Colac Bay/Oraka, Ermedale, Fairfax, Gropers Bush, Gummies Bush, Hazletts, Longwood, Otaitai Bush, Pourakino Valley, Riverton/Aparima, Round Hill, Ruahine, Taramoa, Thornbury, Tihaka, Waianiwa, Waimatuku, Waipango, Wakapatu, Wrights Bush

Wallace Takitimu

Avondale, Bayswater, Crawfords, Drummond, Dunearn, Five Roads, Gladfield, Heddon Bush, Isla Bank, Nightcaps, Ohai, Opio, Otahuti, Otautau, Ringway, Scotts Gap, Spar Bush, Tinkertown, Waikouro, Wairio, Woodlaw, Wreys Bush

Waihopai Toetoe

Ashers, Brydone, Bush Siding, Chaslands, Curio Bay, Dacre, Edendale, Fortification, Fortrose, Glenham, Gorge Road, Grove Bush, Haldane, Kamahi, Kapuka, Kapuka South, Kennington, Longbush, Mabel Bush, Mataura Island, Menzies Ferry, Mimihau, Mokoreta, Mokotua, Morton Mains, Niagara, Ota Creek, Otara, Oteramika, Oware, Pine Bush, Progress Valley, Pukewao, Quarry Hills, Rakahouka, Redan, Rimu, Roslyn Bush, Seaward Downs, Slope Point, Te Peka, Te Tipua, Timpanys, Titiroa, Tokanui, Tuturau, Waiarikiki, Waikawa, Waikawa Valley, Waimahaka, Waimatua, Waituna, Woodlands, Wyndham

Oreti

Benmore, Branxholme, Browns, Caroline, Centre Bush, Dipton, Dipton West, Gap Road, Glencoe, Hedgehope, Heenans Corner, Hokonui, Josephville, Kauana, Lady Barkly, Limehills, Lochiel, Lorneville, Makarewa, Makarewa Junction, Northope, Oporo, Oreti Plains, Otapiri, Otapiri Gorge, Pukemutu, Ryal Bush, South Hillend, Springhills, Thomsons Crossing, Tussock Creek, Waitane, Wallacetown, West Plains, Wilsons Crossing, Winton

Stewart Island/Rakiura

All of Stewart Island Rakiura, the surrounding Islands and Ruapuke Island