One Maaori ward covers the whole city and has two councillors, elected by voters on the Māori electoral roll.

The East and West wards cover half the city, with the boundary between the two being the Waikato River.

[19] A by-election was held in February 2018 to replace Phillip and Councillor Ryan Hamilton was elected.

[20] In 2020, the electoral system was changed from First Past the Post to Single Transferable Vote,[21] following consultation in which 78.1% supported STV.

[26] On 23 March 1905 Richard Seddon opened a £3,510 town hall, with a council chamber, further south, near the Municipal Baths.