Districts of New Zealand

A district in New Zealand is a territorial authority area governed by a district council as a second-tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. They were formed as a result of local government reforms in 1989. There are 53 districts in New Zealand, and they do not include the 12 city councils, Auckland Council, or Chatham Islands Council. District councils serve a combination of rural and urban communities, while city councils administer the larger urban areas. Three districts (Gisborne, Tasman and Marlborough) are unitary authorities also performing the functions of a regional council.

Districts are not subdivisions of regions, and some of them fall within more than one region. Taupo District has the distinction of straddling the boundaries of four different regions. Regional council areas are based on water catchment areas, whereas district council areas 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 district councils administer local roads and reserves, sewerage, building consents, the land use and subdivision aspects of resource management, and other local matters. Some activities are delegated to council-controlled organisations.

Regions and districts of New Zealand

Districts

There are currently 53 districts:

North Island

Bay of Plenty Region

• Kawerau District
• Ōpōtiki District
• Rotorua Lakes Council
• Western Bay of Plenty District
• Whakatane District

Hawke's Bay Region

• Central Hawke's Bay District
• Hastings District
• Wairoa District

Manawatū-Whanganui Region

• Horowhenua District
• Manawatu District
• Ruapehu District
• Whanganui District

Northland Region

• Far North District
• Kaipara District
• Whangarei District

Taranaki Region

• New Plymouth District
• South Taranaki District

Waikato Region

• Hauraki District
• Matamata-Piako District
• Otorohanga District
• South Waikato District
• Thames-Coromandel District
• Waikato District
• Waipa District

Wellington Region

• Carterton District
• Kapiti Coast District
• Masterton District
• South Wairarapa District

Mixed

• Rangitikei District (Manawatū-Whanganui: 86.37%; Hawke's Bay: 13.63%)
• Rotorua Lakes (Bay of Plenty: 61.52%; Waikato: 38.48%)
• Stratford District (Taranaki: 68.13%; Manawatū-Whanganui: 31.87%)
• Tararua District (Manawatū-Whanganui: 98.42%; Wellington: 1.58%)
• Taupo District (Waikato: 73.74%; Bay of Plenty: 14.31%; Hawke's Bay: 11.26%; Manawatū-Whanganui: 0.69%)
• Waitomo District (Waikato: 94.87%; Manawatū-Whanganui: 5.13%)

Unitary authorities

• Gisborne District

South Island

Canterbury Region

• Ashburton District
• Hurunui District
• Kaikoura District
• Mackenzie District
• Selwyn District
• Timaru District
• Waimakariri District
• Waimate District

Otago Region

• Central Otago District
• Clutha District
• Queenstown-Lakes District

Southland Region

• Southland District
• Gore District

West Coast Region

• Buller District
• Westland District
• Grey District

Mixed

• Waitaki District (Canterbury: 59.61%; Otago: 40.39%)

Unitary authorities

• Marlborough District
• Tasman District

Notes:

• Kaikoura District was transferred from the Nelson-Marlborough Region to the Canterbury region in 1992.
• Banks Peninsula District became part of Christchurch as a result of 2005 referendum.
• Franklin District, Papakura District and Rodney District no longer exist as of 2010. They became part of other districts and Auckland Region.

See also

• Community Board (New Zealand)
• Politics of New Zealand
• Territorial authorities of New Zealand
• List of former territorial authorities in New Zealand

External links

• Regional and district boundaries (North Island)
• Regional and district boundaries (South Island)
• District Councils in New Zealand