We have commented on the strange disparity earlier.  The announcement contained on the KCDC website:

• In response to strong resident feedback the council is proposing to enlarge the Waikanae Ward boundary (see map) so that all the residents in Huia Street and Reikorangi can be in the Waikanae Ward area, as well as the Waikanae Community Board area. This was not the case previously, with those residents being within the Ōtaki Ward area, a situation they found anomalous. This had occurred because of a rule in the Local Electoral Act – the +/-10% rule – which seeks to ensure proportional representation. Non-compliance with this rule may now be allowed because of a new clause in the LEA (clause 19V(3)(ii)) which can allow a community to be kept together rather than dividing it across ward boundaries. However, this does mean that council will have to refer the matter to the Local Government Commission at the end of the process for their final decision.