Territorial authorities of New Zealand

Territorial authorities (Māori: mana ā-rohe) 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.

Map of territorial authorities

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]

History

1989 local government reforms

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

Changes since 1989

Since the 1989 reorganisations, there have been few major reorganisations or status changes in local government. Incomplete list:

• 1991: Invercargill re-proclaimed a city.
• 1992: Nelson-Marlborough Regional Council abolished by a Local Government Amendment Act. Of its territorial authorities, the Kaikōura District was transferred to the Canterbury Region, and Nelson City and Tasman and Marlborough districts became unitary authorities.
• 1995: The Chatham Islands County was dissolved and reconstituted by an Act of Parliament as the "Chatham Islands Territory", with powers similar to those of territorial authorities and some functions similar to those of a regional council.^[6]
• 2004: Tauranga became a city again on 1 March.
• 2006: The Banks Peninsula District merged into Christchurch as a result of a 2005 referendum.
• 2010: Auckland Council, a unitary authority, replaced seven local councils and the regional council.

Reports on completed reorganisation proposals since 1999 are available on the Local Government Commission's site (link below).

2007–2009 Royal Commission on Auckland Governance

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".^[7] The area would consist of one city council (with statutory provision for three Māori councillors), four urban local councils, and two rural local councils:

• Rodney local council would lose Orewa, Dairy Flat, and Whangaparaoa but retain the remainder of the current Rodney District. The split areas as well as the current North Shore City would form a Waitemata local council.
• Waitakere local council would consist of the current Waitakere City as well as the Avondale area.
• Tamaki Makaurau would consist of the current Auckland City and Otahuhu (excluding CBD)
• Manukau local council would consist of the urban parts of the current Manukau City and of the Papakura District.
• Hunua local council would consist of the entire Franklin District, much of which is currently in the Waikato Region, along with rural areas of the current Papakura District and Manukau City.
• The entire Papakura District would be dissolved between urban and rural 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.^[8]

Criticism of the amended proposal came largely from residents in Manukau, Waitakere and North Shore Cities.^{[9][10][11][12][13][14][15]} In addition, Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples spoke against the exclusion of the Māori seats, as recommended by the Royal Commission.^[16][17] Opposition Leader Phil Goff called for a referendum on the issue.^[18]

Creation of Auckland Council

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.^[19] Auckland Council is uniquely divided into "local boards" representing the lowest tier of local government.^[20]

Failed proposed changes

• 2015: Proposals to amalgamate local councils in Wellington^[21] and Northland were accepted^[22] by the Local Government Commission for consideration, although following consultation they ultimately were not formed into a final proposal. The status quo remains.
• 2015: Amalgamation of four local councils and the regional council in Hawke's Bay was proposed by the Local Government Commission. A district wide referendum was held in Sep-2015, and the proposal was defeated by 66% of voters.^[23]
• 2015: The Local Government Commission received a proposal to review local government arrangements on the West Coast. In August 2016 the Commission decided to progress the application. The Commission then invited alternative applications to the original application. The Commission's call for alternative reorganisation applications or other proposals for change to West Coast local government arrangements closed on 15 March 2017. The Commission received 23 responses, 19 of which made specific proposals for change. In December 2017 the Local Government Commission determined its preferred option for local government reorganisation on the West Coast to be the transfer of district plan preparation from the Buller, Grey and Westland district councils to the West Coast Regional Council.^[24]

Youth councils

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. ^[25] 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."^[26] In early January 2024, the Gore District Council opted to restructure its youth council and ruled out dismantling it.^[27] In April 2024, the Whanganui District Council proposed scrapping its youth council by June 2024 as part of budget saving measures.^[25]

List of territorial authorities

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)[28]	Population[a]	Density (/km2)	Region(s)[b]	Island
Far North District Council	10	Kaikohe	6,684	74,700	11.18	Northland	North
Whangārei District Council	14	Whangārei	2,712	102,200	37.68	Northland	North
Kaipara District Council	9	Dargaville	3,109	27,900	8.97	Northland	North
Auckland Council	21	Auckland	4,941	1,798,300	363.95	unitary authority	North
Thames-Coromandel District Council	9	Thames	2,207	33,300	15.09	Waikato	North
Hauraki District Council	13	Paeroa	1,270	22,600	17.80	Waikato	North
Waikato District Council	14	Ngāruawāhia	4,404	92,500	21.00	Waikato	North
Matamata-Piako District Council	12	Te Aroha	1,755	39,300	22.39	Waikato	North
Hamilton City Council	13	Hamilton	110	192,000	1,745.45	Waikato	North
Waipa District Council	13	Te Awamutu	1,470	62,700	42.65	Waikato	North
Ōtorohanga District Council	8	Ōtorohanga	1,999	11,050	5.53	Waikato	North
South Waikato District Council	11	Tokoroa	1,819	26,200	14.40	Waikato	North
Waitomo District Council	7	Te Kūiti	3,535	10,050	2.84	Waikato (94.87%) Manawatū-Whanganui (5.13%)	North
Taupō District Council	11	Taupō	6,333	42,600	6.73	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[c]	1,951	62,000	31.78	Bay of Plenty	North
Tauranga City Council	11	Tauranga	135	162,800	1,205.93	Bay of Plenty	North
Rotorua District Council	11	Rotorua	2,409	77,800	32.30	Bay of Plenty (61.52%) Waikato (38.48%)	North
Whakatāne District Council	11	Whakatāne	4,450	38,400	8.63	Bay of Plenty	North
Kawerau District Council	9	Kawerau	24	7,610	317.08	Bay of Plenty	North
Ōpōtiki District Council	7	Ōpōtiki	3,090	10,400	3.37	Bay of Plenty	North
Gisborne District Council	14	Gisborne	8,385	53,300	6.36	unitary authority	North
Wairoa District Council	7	Wairoa	4,077	9,160	2.25	Hawke's Bay	North
Hastings District Council	15	Hastings	5,227	92,000	17.60	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	16,600	4.98	Hawke's Bay	North
New Plymouth District Council	15	New Plymouth	2,205	90,000	40.82	Taranaki	North
Stratford District Council	11	Stratford	2,163	10,600	4.90	Taranaki (68.13%) Manawatū-Whanganui (31.87%)	North
South Taranaki District Council	13	Hāwera	3,575	30,400	8.50	Taranaki	North
Ruapehu District Council	12	Taumarunui	6,734	13,550	2.01	Manawatū-Whanganui	North
Whanganui District Council	13	Whanganui	2,373	48,600	20.48	Manawatū-Whanganui	North
Rangitikei District Council	12	Marton	4,484	16,650	3.71	Manawatū-Whanganui (86.37%) Hawke's Bay (13.63%)	North
Manawatu District Council	11	Feilding	2,657	34,800	13.10	Manawatū-Whanganui	North
Palmerston North City Council	16	Palmerston North	395	92,500	234.18	Manawatū-Whanganui	North
Tararua District Council	9	Dannevirke	4,365	19,250	4.41	Manawatū-Whanganui (98.42%) Wellington (1.58%)	North
Horowhenua District Council	12	Levin	1,064	37,700	35.43	Manawatū-Whanganui	North
Kāpiti Coast District Council	11	Paraparaumu	732	57,800	78.96	Wellington	North
Porirua City Council	11	Porirua	175	62,000	354.29	Wellington	North
Upper Hutt City Council	11	Upper Hutt	540	47,900	88.70	Wellington	North
Hutt City Council	13	Lower Hutt	376	115,500	307.18	Wellington	North
Wellington City Council	15	Wellington	290	215,300	742.41	Wellington	North
Masterton District Council	11	Masterton	2,300	29,700	12.91	Wellington	North
Carterton District Council	9	Carterton	1,180	10,250	8.69	Wellington	North
South Wairarapa District Council	10	Martinborough	2,387	12,050	5.05	Wellington	North
Tasman District Council	14	Richmond	9,616	60,000	6.24	unitary authority	South
Nelson City Council	13	Nelson	422	55,200	130.81	unitary authority	South
Marlborough District Council	14	Blenheim	10,458	52,300	5.00	unitary authority	South
Buller District Council	11	Westport	7,943	10,500	1.32	West Coast	South
Grey District Council	9	Greymouth	3,474	14,800	4.26	West Coast	South
Westland District Council	9	Hokitika	11,828	9,430	0.80	West Coast	South
Kaikōura District Council	8	Kaikōura	2,047	4,410	2.15	Canterbury	South
Hurunui District Council	10	Amberley	8,641	14,400	1.67	Canterbury	South
Waimakariri District Council	11	Rangiora	2,217	69,600	31.39	Canterbury	South
Christchurch City Council	17	Christchurch	1,416[d]	415,100	293.15	Canterbury	South
Selwyn District Council	12	Rolleston	6,381	85,600	13.41	Canterbury	South
Ashburton District Council	13	Ashburton	6,182	38,400	6.21	Canterbury	South
Timaru District Council	10	Timaru	2,732	50,100	18.34	Canterbury	South
Mackenzie District Council	7	Fairlie	7,139	5,800	0.81	Canterbury	South
Waimate District Council	9	Waimate	3,554	8,850	2.49	Canterbury	South
Chatham Islands Council	9	Waitangi	794	720	0.91	unitary authority	South
Waitaki District Council	11	Oamaru	7,108	25,100	3.53	Canterbury (59.61%) Otago (40.39%)	South
Central Otago District Council	11	Alexandra	9,933	26,500	2.67	Otago	South
Queenstown-Lakes District Council	11	Queenstown	8,720	52,400	6.01	Otago	South
Dunedin City Council	15	Dunedin	3,286	136,000	41.39	Otago	South
Clutha District Council	15	Balclutha	6,335	19,300	3.05	Otago	South
Southland District Council	13	Invercargill	29,552[e]	34,300	1.16	Southland	South
Gore District Council	12	Gore	1,254	13,200	10.53	Southland	South
Invercargill City Council	13	Invercargill	390	58,600	150.26	Southland	South

1. Population as of June 2024
2. Percentages are of land area.
3. A suburb of Tauranga City
4. Total of Christchurch City and Banks Peninsula areas
5. Includes Stewart Island / Rakiura and the Solander Islands.

Offshore islands

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):

• Bare Island
• Mayor Island / Tūhua (3)
• Mōtītī Island (30)
• Moutohora Island
• Whakaari / White Island

In addition, seven of the nine groups of the New Zealand outlying islands are outside of any territorial authority:

• Kermadec Islands (3)
• New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
  • Antipodes Islands
  • Auckland Islands
  • Bounty Islands
  • Campbell Islands
  • Snares Islands / Tini Heke
• Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands

Mayors

Further information: Mayors in New Zealand

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.^[29] 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]

See also

• New Zealand portal

• Community board
• Districts of New Zealand
• List of cities in New Zealand
• List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand
• List of towns in New Zealand
• Local Government New Zealand

References

1. "Territorial authority". Stats NZ. 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
2. "Councils' roles and functions". www.localcouncils.govt.nz. New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
3. "Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 16 May 2020), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
4. Wallis, J.and Dollery, B. (2000). Local Government Reform in New Zealand Working Paper Series in Economics, No 2000-7, May 2000, ISBN 1-86389-682-1, University of New England School of Economic Studies, Armidale NSW 2351 Australia. Copyright 2000 by Joe Wallis and Brian Dollery. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
5. "Local Government Act 2002, Schedule 3 part 16, Cities". www.legislation.govt.nz. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
6. "Chatham Islands Council Act 1995". New Zealand Legislation. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
7. Thompson, Wayne (28 March 2009). "Super-city tipped to save $113m a year". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 March 2009.
8. Thompson, Wayne (8 April 2009). "Proposal 'a great start' says Banks, but other mayors critical – Super City – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
9. "Protest gets backing". Stuff. 30 April 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
10. "Marching for Waitakere". Stuff. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
11. "Supercity protesters hit the streets – national". Stuff. 22 April 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
12. Udanga, Romy (5 May 2009). "Call for a united front". Stuff. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
13. Udanga, Romy (5 May 2009). "Supercity fears emerge". Stuff. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
14. Kemeys, David (3 June 2009). "Who stole our voice? – auckland". Stuff. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
15. "Govt's super-council leaflets anger mayor – National – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
16. Tahana, Yvonne (8 April 2009). "Anger rises over lack of Maori seats – National – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
17. Kotze, Karen (11 May 2009). "Hui calls for representation". Stuff. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
18. "Let Auckland decide on local government changes | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
19. "Local Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009 No 32 (as at 10 May 2016), Public Act Contents – New Zealand Legislation". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
20. "Better Local Government". Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
21. "LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION MANA KĀWANATANGA Ā ROHE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2015.
22. "LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSION MANA KĀWANATANGA Ā ROHE" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2015.
23. "Hawke's Bay Reorganisation Poll : PROGRESS RESULT" (PDF). Electionz.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
24. "West Coast reorganisation application". www.lgc.govt.nz. New Zealand Local Government Commission. Retrieved 10 September 2020. Text was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
25. Gosavi, Janhavi (11 April 2024). "Youth voices in local government are under threat". Re. TVNZ. Archived from the original on 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
26. Leask, Jonathan (27 December 2023). "Youth Council axed, labelled as 'a youth club where they ate pizza'". The Star. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
27. Kelly, Rachael (5 January 2024). "'How can we not continue?' Gore votes to save its youth council". Southland Times. Stuff. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
28. "Data Table | Territorial Authority 2020 Clipped (generalised) | Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". datafinder.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
29. "Councillors and Mayors". www.localcouncils.govt.nz. New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 6 August 2020.

Footnotes

1. City councils serve a population of more than 50,000 in a predominantly urban area.

External links

• Local Councils (maintained by the Department of Internal Affairs)
• Local Government Services at the Department of Internal Affairs site (includes the Local Government Directory at the bottom of the page)
  • Administration of Offshore Islands
• Local Government Commission site
• Local Government Online Limited site Archived 25 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine (portal site owned by the Society of Local Government Managers and the Association of Local Government Information Management)
• Local Government New Zealand region and district boundaries – North Island
• Local Government New Zealand region and district boundaries – South Island
• Statistics New Zealand clickable map for local body and area unit detail over all of New Zealand