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Territorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. There are 67 territorial authorities: 13 city councils, 53 district councils and the Chatham Islands Council. [1] District councils serve a combination of rural and urban communities, while city councils administer the larger urban areas. [note 1] Five territorial authorities (Auckland, Nelson, Gisborne, Tasman and Marlborough) also perform the functions of a regional council and thus are unitary authorities. The Chatham Islands Council is a sui generis territorial authority that is similar to a unitary authority.
Territorial authority districts are not subdivisions of regions, and some of them fall within more than one region. Regional council areas are based on water catchment areas, whereas territorial authorities are based on community of interest and road access. Regional councils are responsible for the administration of many environmental and public transport matters, while the territorial authorities administer local roading and reserves, water supply and sanitation, building consents, the land use and subdivision aspects of resource management, and other local matters. [2] Some activities are delegated to council-controlled organisations. The scope of powers is specified by the Local Government Act 2002. [3]
There are currently 67 territorial authorities. Before the Auckland Council "super merge" in November 2010, there were 73 territorial authorities. Before the Banks Peninsula District Council merged with the Christchurch City Council in 2006, there were 74 territorial authorities.
Name | Members (including mayor) | Seat | Land area (km2) [4] | Population [lower-alpha 1] | Density (/km2) | Region(s) [lower-alpha 2] | Island |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Far North District Council | 10 | Kaikohe | 6,684 | 74,700 | 11.18 | Northland | North |
Whangārei District Council | 14 | Whangārei | 2,712 | 101,900 | 37.57 | Northland | North |
Kaipara District Council | 9 | Dargaville | 3,109 | 27,300 | 8.78 | Northland | North |
Auckland Council | 21 | Auckland | 4,941 | 1,739,300 | 352.01 | unitary authority | North |
Thames-Coromandel District Council | 9 | Thames | 2,207 | 33,700 | 15.27 | Waikato | North |
Hauraki District Council | 13 | Paeroa | 1,270 | 22,400 | 17.64 | Waikato | North |
Waikato District Council | 14 | Ngāruawāhia | 4,404 | 90,100 | 20.46 | Waikato | North |
Matamata-Piako District Council | 12 | Te Aroha | 1,755 | 37,700 | 21.48 | Waikato | North |
Hamilton City Council | 13 | Hamilton | 110 | 185,300 | 1,684.55 | Waikato | North |
Waipa District Council | 13 | Te Awamutu | 1,470 | 61,100 | 41.56 | Waikato | North |
Ōtorohanga District Council | 8 | Ōtorohanga | 1,999 | 10,900 | 5.45 | Waikato | North |
South Waikato District Council | 11 | Tokoroa | 1,819 | 26,000 | 14.29 | Waikato | North |
Waitomo District Council | 7 | Te Kūiti | 3,535 | 9,720 | 2.75 | Waikato (94.87%) Manawatū-Whanganui (5.13%) | North |
Taupō District Council | 11 | Taupō | 6,333 | 42,000 | 6.63 | Waikato (73.74%) Bay of Plenty (14.31%) Hawke's Bay (11.26%) Manawatū-Whanganui (0.69%) | North |
Western Bay of Plenty District Council | 12 | Greerton [lower-alpha 3] | 1,951 | 60,800 | 31.16 | Bay of Plenty | North |
Tauranga City Council | 11 | Tauranga | 135 | 161,800 | 1,198.52 | Bay of Plenty | North |
Rotorua District Council | 11 | Rotorua | 2,409 | 78,200 | 32.46 | Bay of Plenty (61.52%) Waikato (38.48%) | North |
Whakatāne District Council | 11 | Whakatāne | 4,450 | 38,800 | 8.72 | Bay of Plenty | North |
Kawerau District Council | 9 | Kawerau | 24 | 7,820 | 325.83 | Bay of Plenty | North |
Ōpōtiki District Council | 7 | Ōpōtiki | 3,090 | 10,550 | 3.41 | Bay of Plenty | North |
Gisborne District Council | 14 | Gisborne | 8,385 | 52,600 | 6.27 | unitary authority | North |
Wairoa District Council | 7 | Wairoa | 4,077 | 9,290 | 2.28 | Hawke's Bay | North |
Hastings District Council | 15 | Hastings | 5,227 | 91,900 | 17.58 | Hawke's Bay | North |
Napier City Council | 13 | Napier | 105 | 67,500 | 642.86 | Hawke's Bay | North |
Central Hawke's Bay District Council | 9 | Waipawa | 3,333 | 16,000 | 4.80 | Hawke's Bay | North |
New Plymouth District Council | 15 | New Plymouth | 2,205 | 88,900 | 40.32 | Taranaki | North |
Stratford District Council | 11 | Stratford | 2,163 | 10,300 | 4.76 | Taranaki (68.13%) Manawatū-Whanganui (31.87%) | North |
South Taranaki District Council | 13 | Hāwera | 3,575 | 29,600 | 8.28 | Taranaki | North |
Ruapehu District Council | 12 | Taumarunui | 6,734 | 13,050 | 1.94 | Manawatū-Whanganui | North |
Whanganui District Council | 13 | Whanganui | 2,373 | 48,900 | 20.61 | Manawatū-Whanganui | North |
Rangitikei District Council | 12 | Marton | 4,484 | 16,300 | 3.64 | Manawatū-Whanganui (86.37%) Hawke's Bay (13.63%) | North |
Manawatu District Council | 11 | Feilding | 2,657 | 33,900 | 12.76 | Manawatū-Whanganui | North |
Palmerston North City Council | 16 | Palmerston North | 395 | 91,800 | 232.41 | Manawatū-Whanganui | North |
Tararua District Council | 9 | Dannevirke | 4,365 | 19,200 | 4.40 | Manawatū-Whanganui (98.42%) Wellington (1.58%) | North |
Horowhenua District Council | 12 | Levin | 1,064 | 37,500 | 35.24 | Manawatū-Whanganui | North |
Kāpiti Coast District Council | 11 | Paraparaumu | 732 | 58,400 | 79.78 | Wellington | North |
Porirua City Council | 11 | Porirua | 175 | 62,400 | 356.57 | Wellington | North |
Upper Hutt City Council | 11 | Upper Hutt | 540 | 48,300 | 89.44 | Wellington | North |
Hutt City Council | 13 | Lower Hutt | 376 | 114,000 | 303.19 | Wellington | North |
Wellington City Council | 15 | Wellington | 290 | 216,200 | 745.52 | Wellington | North |
Masterton District Council | 11 | Masterton | 2,300 | 29,100 | 12.65 | Wellington | North |
Carterton District Council | 9 | Carterton | 1,180 | 10,250 | 8.69 | Wellington | North |
South Wairarapa District Council | 10 | Martinborough | 2,387 | 11,900 | 4.99 | Wellington | North |
Tasman District Council | 14 | Richmond | 9,616 | 59,400 | 6.18 | unitary authority | South |
Nelson City Council | 13 | Nelson | 422 | 55,600 | 131.75 | unitary authority | South |
Marlborough District Council | 14 | Blenheim | 10,458 | 52,200 | 4.99 | unitary authority | South |
Buller District Council | 11 | Westport | 7,943 | 9,670 | 1.22 | West Coast | South |
Grey District Council | 9 | Greymouth | 3,474 | 14,250 | 4.10 | West Coast | South |
Westland District Council | 9 | Hokitika | 11,828 | 8,940 | 0.76 | West Coast | South |
Kaikōura District Council | 8 | Kaikōura | 2,047 | 4,230 | 2.07 | Canterbury | South |
Hurunui District Council | 10 | Amberley | 8,641 | 13,800 | 1.60 | Canterbury | South |
Waimakariri District Council | 11 | Rangiora | 2,217 | 69,000 | 31.12 | Canterbury | South |
Christchurch City Council | 17 | Christchurch | 1,416 [lower-alpha 4] | 396,200 | 279.80 | Canterbury | South |
Selwyn District Council | 12 | Rolleston | 6,381 | 81,300 | 12.74 | Canterbury | South |
Ashburton District Council | 13 | Ashburton | 6,182 | 36,800 | 5.95 | Canterbury | South |
Timaru District Council | 10 | Timaru | 2,732 | 48,900 | 17.90 | Canterbury | South |
Mackenzie District Council | 7 | Fairlie | 7,139 | 5,690 | 0.80 | Canterbury | South |
Waimate District Council | 9 | Waimate | 3,554 | 8,400 | 2.36 | Canterbury | South |
Chatham Islands Council | 9 | Waitangi | 794 | 730 | 0.92 | unitary authority | South |
Waitaki District Council | 11 | Oamaru | 7,108 | 24,300 | 3.42 | Canterbury (59.61%) Otago (40.39%) | South |
Central Otago District Council | 11 | Alexandra | 9,933 | 26,000 | 2.62 | Otago | South |
Queenstown-Lakes District Council | 11 | Queenstown | 8,720 | 52,800 | 6.06 | Otago | South |
Dunedin City Council | 15 | Dunedin | 3,286 | 134,600 | 40.96 | Otago | South |
Clutha District Council | 15 | Balclutha | 6,335 | 18,900 | 2.98 | Otago | South |
Southland District Council | 13 | Invercargill | 29,552 [lower-alpha 5] | 33,000 | 1.12 | Southland | South |
Gore District Council | 12 | Gore | 1,254 | 13,050 | 10.41 | Southland | South |
Invercargill City Council | 13 | Invercargill | 390 | 57,900 | 148.46 | Southland | South |
There are a number of islands where the Minister of Local Government is the territorial authority, two of which have a 'permanent population and/or permanent buildings and structures.' The main islands are listed below (population according to 2001 census in parentheses):
In addition, seven of the nine groups of the New Zealand outlying islands are outside of any territorial authority:
Territorial authorities have a mayor–council government. Mayors in New Zealand are directly elected—at-large, by all eligible voters within a territorial authority—in the local elections to a three-year term. [5] The Local Government Act 2002 defines the role of a mayor as having to provide leadership to the other elected members of the territorial authority, be a leader in the community and perform civic duties. [3]
For many decades until the local government reforms of 1989, a borough with more than 20,000 people could be proclaimed a city. The boundaries of councils tended to follow the edge of the built-up area, so little distinction was made between the urban area and the local government area.
New Zealand's local government structural arrangements were significantly reformed by the Local Government Commission in 1989 when approximately 700 councils and special purpose bodies were amalgamated to create 87 new local authorities. Regional councils were reduced in number from 20 to 13, territorial authorities (city/district councils) from 200 to 75, and special purpose bodies from over 400 to 7. [6] The new district and city councils were generally much larger and most covered substantial areas of both urban and rural land. Many places that once had a city council were now being administered by a district council.
As a result, the term "city" began to take on two meanings.
City also came to be used in a less formal sense to describe major urban areas independent of local body boundaries. This informal usage is jealously guarded. Gisborne, for example, adamantly described itself as the first city in the world to see the new millennium. Gisborne is administered by a district council, but its status as a city is not generally disputed.[ citation needed ]
Under current law, an urban area has to be at least 50,000 residents before it can be officially proclaimed as a city. [7]
Since the 1989 reorganisations, there have been few major reorganisations or status changes in local government. Incomplete list:
Reports on completed reorganisation proposals since 1999 are available on the Local Government Commission's site (link below).
On 26 March 2009, the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance recommended the Rodney, North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland City, Manukau, Papakura and Franklin territorial councils and the Auckland Regional Council be abolished and the entire Auckland region to be amalgamated into one "supercity". [9] The area would consist of one city council (with statutory provision for three Māori councillors), four urban local councils, and two rural local councils:
The National-led Government responded within about a week. Its plan, which went to a Select Committee, accepted the proposal for supercity and many community boards, but rejected proposals for local councils and, initially, no separate seats for Māori.
Public reaction to the Royal Commission report was mixed, especially in regards to the Government's amended proposal. Auckland Mayor John Banks supported the amended merger plans. [10]
Criticism of the amended proposal came largely from residents in Manukau, Waitakere and North Shore Cities. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] In addition, Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples spoke against the exclusion of the Māori seats, as recommended by the Royal Commission. [18] [19] Opposition Leader Phil Goff called for a referendum on the issue. [20]
Auckland Council was created on 1 November 2010—a unitary authority that is classed as both a region and a territorial authority. It incorporated the recommendations of the Royal Commission and was established via legislation. [21] Auckland Council is uniquely divided into "local boards" representing the lowest tier of local government. [22]
Under the terms of the Local Government Act 2002, district councils have to represent the interests of their future communities and consider the views of people affected by their decisions. To fulfill that requirement and give young people a say in the decision-making process, many councils have a youth council. [27] In late December 2023, the Ashburton District Council scrapped their youth council, stating they could engage better with younger people online and describing the current youth council as "a youth club where they ate pizza." [28] In early January 2024, the Gore District Council opted to restructure its youth council and ruled out dismantling it. [29] In April 2024, the Whanganui District Council proposed scrapping its youth council by June 2024 as part of budget saving measures. [27]
Manukau City was a territorial authority district in Auckland, New Zealand, that was governed by the Manukau City Council. The area is also referred to as "South Auckland", although this term never possessed official recognition and does not encompass areas such as East Auckland, which was within the city boundary. It was a relatively young city, both in terms of legal status and large-scale settlement – though in June 2010, it was the third largest in New Zealand, and the fastest growing. In the same year, the entire Auckland Region was amalgamated under a single city authority, Auckland Council.
Waikato is a region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato District, Waipa District, Matamata-Piako District, South Waikato District and Hamilton City, as well as Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupō District, and parts of the Rotorua Lakes District. It is governed by the Waikato Regional Council.
The Manukau Harbour is the second largest natural harbour in New Zealand by area. It is located to the southwest of the Auckland isthmus, and opens out into the Tasman Sea.
Takanini is a southern suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, 28 kilometres southeast of the Auckland CBD.
Auckland is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Containing 33 percent of the nation's residents, it has by far the largest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.
South Auckland is one of the major geographical regions of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. The area is south of the Auckland isthmus, and on the eastern shores of the Manukau Harbour. The area has been populated by Tāmaki Māori since at least the 14th century, and has important archaeological sites, such as the Ōtuataua stonefield gardens at Ihumātao, and Māngere Mountain, a former pā site important to Waiohua tribes.
Auckland City was a territorial authority with city status covering the central isthmus of the urban area of Auckland, New Zealand. It was governed by the Auckland City Council from 1989 to 2010, and as a territory within the wider Auckland Region, was also governed by Auckland Regional Council. Auckland City was disestablished as a local authority on 1 November 2010, when Auckland City Council was amalgamated with other councils of the Auckland Region into the new Auckland Council. At the time of its disestablishment, the city had a resident population of around 450,000.
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) was the regional council of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority (ARA) was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989. The ARC was subsumed into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010.
Wellington Regional Council, branded as Greater Wellington Regional Council, is the regional council overseeing the Wellington Region of New Zealand's lower North Island. It is responsible for public transport under the brand Metlink, environmental and flood protection, and the region's water supply. As of 2023, it is the majority owner of CentrePort Wellington with a 77% shareholding.
Sir Robert Anster Harvey is a former New Zealand advertising executive and politician. He is best known for his time as mayor of Waitakere City, which he held for 18 years from 1992 to 2010, and was also president of the New Zealand Labour Party in 1999 and 2000.
Regional parks of New Zealand are protected areas administered by regional councils, the top tier of local government. Regional parks are found across five regions of New Zealand: the Auckland Region, Waikato Region, Bay of Plenty Region, Wellington Region and Canterbury Region. Regional parks in the Auckland and Waikato regions are administered by the Auckland Council, while parks in other areas are administered by regional councils: the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Canterbury Regional Council.
Auckland is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about 1,478,800. It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, and which has a total population of 1,739,300 as of June 2023. It is the most populous city of New Zealand and the fifth largest city in Oceania. While Europeans continue to make up the plurality of Auckland's population, the city became multicultural and cosmopolitan in the late-20th century, with Asians accounting for 31% of the city's population in 2018. Auckland has the fourth largest foreign-born population in the world, with 39% of its residents born overseas. With its large population of Pasifika New Zealanders, the city is also home to the biggest ethnic Polynesian population in the world. The Māori-language name for Auckland is Tāmaki Makaurau, meaning "Tāmaki desired by many", in reference to the desirability of its natural resources and geography. Tāmaki means "omen".
Auckland Council is the local government council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It is a territorial authority that has the responsibilities, duties and powers of a regional council and so is a unitary authority, according to the Local Government Act 2009, which established the council. The governing body consists of a mayor and 20 councillors, elected from 13 wards. There are also 149 members of 21 local boards who make decisions on matters local to their communities. It is the largest council in Oceania, with a $3 billion annual budget, $29 billion of ratepayer equity, and 9,870 full-time staff as of 30 June 2016. The council began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the previous regional council and the region's seven city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city".
The Royal Commission on Auckland Governance was established by the New Zealand Government to investigate the local government arrangements of Auckland.
New Zealand has a unitary system of government in which the authority of the central government defines sub-national entities. Local government in New Zealand has only the powers conferred upon it by the New Zealand Parliament. Under the Local Government Act 2002, local authorities are responsible for enabling democratic local decision-making and promoting the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of their communities, as well as more specific functions for which they have delegated authority.
Ambury Regional Park is a regional park situated on the coast of Manukau Harbour, in Auckland in New Zealand's North Island. It is situated in the suburb of Māngere Bridge and in the local board area of Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, to the west of Māngere Mountain.
The Waitemata County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the North Island. Established in 1876, the county covered West Auckland, Rodney and the North Shore. The county shrunk in size between 1886 and 1954 when various urban areas on the North Shore and in West Auckland became boroughs and established their own local councils. The Waitemata County was dissolved in 1974, with the county council area being taken over by the newly established Waitemata City in the west, and by Takapuna City and Rodney Council in the north.
West Auckland is one of the major geographical areas of Auckland, the largest city in New Zealand. Much of the area is dominated by the Waitākere Ranges, the eastern slopes of the Miocene era Waitākere volcano which was upraised from the ocean floor, and now one of the largest regional parks in New Zealand. The metropolitan area of West Auckland developed between the Waitākere Ranges to the west and the upper reaches of the Waitematā Harbour to the east. It covers areas such as Glen Eden, Henderson, Massey and New Lynn.