Jump to content

Wellington City Council

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wellington City Council

Te Kaunihera o Pōneke
Wellington coat of arms
Coat of arms
Wellington City Council brand logo
Brand logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
Established1 November 1989; 36 years ago
Preceded by
New session started
17 October 2025
Leadership
Andrew Little, Labour
since 17 October 2025
Ben McNulty, Labour
since 29 October 2025
Matt Prosser
since 5 December 2024
Structure
Seats16 (including mayor)
Graph of the party split among 16 seats.
Political groups
  •   Labour (6)
  •   Independent (4)
  •   Green (4)
  •   Independent Together (1)
  •   vacant (1)
Elections
Single transferable vote
First election
14 October 1989
Last election
11 October 2025
Next election
14 October 2028
Motto
Suprema a situ
Meeting place
2 Harris Street, Wellington
2 Harris Street
Website
wellington.govt.nz/

Wellington City Council (abbr. WCC; Māori: Te Kaunihera o Pōneke) is the territorial authority for the city of Wellington, New Zealand (the country's capital). It serves as the city's local government alongside the Greater Wellington Regional Council as the regional council.

A city council for the city was first formed in 1870, replacing the former town board which had existed since 1863. Following the 1989 reforms to local government, that city council was dissolved and the current authority was established under the same name.

The governing body of the council has 15 councillors and is chaired by the mayor of Wellington (currently Andrew Little since October 2025). There are also two community boards.

History

[edit]

Predecessors

[edit]
Satellite photo of central Wellington (south at bottom left)

In 1870, the Wellington City Corporation was formed, with former town board chairman Joe Dransfield being elected as its mayor.[1][2] Wellington formally attained city status in 1881 when its non-Māori population surpassed 20,000.[1] The Municipal Corporations Act 1886 further ratified Wellington's status as a city, alongside Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Nelson,[2] retroactively recognising it to have been such since 16 September 1870.[3]

The City of Wellington has subsumed many neighbouring boroughs including:

Crown observer

[edit]

On 22 October 2024 the New Zealand government appointed Lindsay McKenzie as a Crown Observer to the council after the Council was forced to revise its 2023–2024 Long Term Plan in response to a failed attempt to sell its airport shares.[9][10] MP and former Wellington City councillor Tamatha Paul accused the government of being politically motivated in their decision to appoint the Crown Observer.[11]

Governing body

[edit]

Mayor

[edit]

One mayor is elected at large from the entire Wellington City district.

Current composition

[edit]

The current members of the governing body of council are:

Role Portrait Name Affiliation First elected Ward
Mayor Andrew Little Labour 2025 Elected at-large
Deputy Ben McNulty Labour 2022 Takapū/Northern
Councillor vacant[a] 2026 Takapū/Northern
Councillor Andrea Compton Independent 2025 Takapū/Northern
Councillor Diane Calvert Independent 2016 Wharangi/Onslow-Western
Councillor Rebecca Matthews Green 2019 Wharangi/Onslow-Western
Councillor Ray Chung Independent Together 2022 Wharangi/Onslow-Western
Councillor Geordie Rogers Green 2024 Pukehīnau/Lambton
Councillor Afnan Al-Rubayee Labour 2025 Pukehīnau/Lambton
Councillor Nicola Young Independent 2013 Pukehīnau/Lambton
Councillor Karl Tiefenbacher Independent 2025 Motukairangi/Eastern
Councillor Sam O'Brien Labour 2025 Motukairangi/Eastern
Councillor Jonny Osborne Green 2025 Motukairangi/Eastern
Councillor Nureddin Abdurahman Labour 2022 Paekawakawa/Southern
Councillor Laurie Foon Green 2019 Paekawakawa/Southern
Councillor Matthew Reweti Labour 2025 Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori

Committees

[edit]

Following a review in 2021 by former Local Government New Zealand chief executive Peter Winder, the council adopted a new committee structure.[13] All committees apart from Te Kaunihera o Pōneke Council and Unaunahi Ngaio Chief Executive Performance Review Committee include two mana whenua representatives (pouiwi), who are paid and have voting rights.[14]

Committees and subcommittees of the Wellington City Council
Committee Chair Deputy Chair Membership
Committees
Te Hoe Matua –
City Strategy and Delivery		 Cr Abdurahman Cr Compton Mayor, all councillors, both pouiwi[15]
Te Taurapa –
Council Planning and Finance		 Cr Calvert Cr O’Brien Mayor, all councillors, both pouiwi[16]
Te Rauawa –
Social, Cultural, and Environment		 Cr Foon Cr Al-Rubayee Mayor, all councillors, both pouiwi[17]
Te Takere –
Regulatory Processes		 Cr Rogers Cr Randle Mayor Little, Cr Calvert, Cr Tiefenbacher, Cr Reweti, Cr Matthews, Cr O’Brien, PI Hohaia[18]
Te Kura o te Waka –
Audit and Risk		 Paul Connell Matthews Mayor Little, Cr Osborne, Cr Reweti, Cr Chung, Cr O’Brien, Cr Randle, PI Kelly, Rachael Dean[19]
Tumu Whakatere –
Chief Executive Performance Review		 Mayor Little Dpty McNulty Cr Calvert, Cr Tiefenbacher, Cr Abdurahman[20]
District Licensing Kate Thomson, Bill Acton, Saar Cohen-Ronen Clare Needham, Joanne Nicoll, Juliet Philpott, Leaha North, Madeline Kirk-Wilson, Mark Boyce, Simon Tendeter[21]
Subcommittees
Te Urungi Whakatupu Ōhanga –
Economic Growth and Development		 Cr Tiefenbacher Cr Reweti Mayor Little, Dpty McNulty, Cr Calvert, Cr Foon, Cr Young, Cr Abdurahman, PI Kelly[22]
Ngā Toki Whakahaere –
CCO Review and Appointments		 Cr Matthews Cr Randle Mayor Little, Cr Al-Rubayee, Cr Compton, Cr Osborne, Cr Abdurahman, PI Hohaia[23]
Te Mataaho o te Hapori –
Grants		 Cr Young Cr Al-Rubayee Mayor Little, Cr Compton, Cr Osborne, Cr Foon, Cr Abdurahman, Cr Chung, PI Hohaia[24]

Pouiwi

[edit]

Two pouiwi (tribal representatives) were appointed in 2023 by the Council's Tākai Here partners, Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira. They have voting rights on Council committees, including committees of the whole, but not on the full Council.[25] Since 2023 the pouiwi are:

Photo Name Appointed by Responsibilities
Holden Hohaia Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika
  • Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee
  • Member, Pītau Pūmanawa | Grants Subcommittee
  • Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee
  • Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee[26]
Liz Kelly Ngāti Toa Rangatira
  • Member, Kōrau Tōtōpū | Long-term Plan, Finance, and Performance Committee
  • Member, Koata Hātepe | Regulatory Processes Committee
  • Member, Kōrau Tūāpapa | Environment and Infrastructure Committee
  • Member, Kōrau Mātinitini | Social, Cultural, and Economic Committee
  • Member, Unaunahi Māhirahira | Audit and Risk Committee[27]

Community boards

[edit]

The council has created two local community boards under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002,[28] with members elected using a single transferable vote (STV) system[29] or appointed by the council.

These are:

Wellington City Council community boards[33][34][35]
Community board Elected members Council appointees
Chair Deputy chair Board members
Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board Darren Hoskins Hamish Todd Chris Renner
Wayne Rudd
Robert O'Brien[b]
Brett Marley[c]
Tawa Community Board Jill Day Tim Davin Carla Bates
Michael Hill
Miriam Moore
Rob Suisted		 Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty
Cr Andrea Compton

Chief executive

[edit]
Chief executive of Wellington City Council
Incumbent
Matt Prosser
Inaugural holderDavid Niven
Formation1 November 1989; 36 years ago (1989-11-01)
Websitewellington.govt.nz

The professional head of the civil service is the chief executive, who is appointed by the council.

Chief executives of Wellington City Council[citation needed]
Name Years
David Niven 1984–1991
Doug Matheson (acting)
1991
Angela C. Griffin 1991–1997
Garry Poole 1998–2013
Kevin Lavery 2013–2019
Barbara McKerrow 2019–2025
Matt Prosser 2025–present

Council-owned organisations

[edit]

The Wellington City Council owns or directly operates several companies.

The council is a part-owner of Wellington Airport, and has two representatives on the airport's board. Former Mayor Andy Foster was a member of the board from 2016 to 2022 and was criticised for poor attendance at board meetings.[37][38] In 2022 he was replaced by incoming mayor Tory Whanau, who was also criticised for poor attendance.[38][39]

The seven council-controlled organisations (CCOs) are[40]

The council has a similar interest in the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.

Elections

[edit]

List

[edit]

Council

[edit]

Mayoral

[edit]

Wards

[edit]
Map of the wards of Wellington City Council

The city is divided into six local electoral wards.[31] The wards were given Māori names in 2018, after consultation with mana whenua.[41]

Takapū / Northern general ward

[edit]

The Takapū / Northern general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Churton Park, Glenside, Grenada North, Grenada Village, Horokiwi, Johnsonville, Newlands, Ōhāriu, Paparangi, Takapu Valley, Tawa and Woodridge.

Wharangi / Onslow-Western general ward

[edit]

The Wharangi / Onslow-Western general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Broadmeadows, Crofton Downs, Kaiwharawhara, Karori, Khandallah, Mākara, Mākara Beach, Ngaio, Ngauranga, Northland, Wadestown and Wilton.

Pukehīnau / Lambton general ward

[edit]

The Pukehīnau / Lambton general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Aro Valley, Highbury, Kelburn, Mount Cook, Mount Victoria, Oriental Bay, Pipitea, Te Aro, Thorndon and Wellington Central.

Motukairangi / Eastern general ward

[edit]

The Motukairangi / Eastern general ward is represented on the council by 3 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Breaker Bay, Hataitai, Houghton Bay, Karaka Bays, Kilbirnie, Lyall Bay, Maupuia, Melrose, Miramar, Moa Point, Rongotai, Roseneath, Seatoun and Strathmore Park.

Paekawakawa / Southern general ward

[edit]

The Paekawakawa / Southern general ward is represented on the council by 2 councillors, and covers the suburbs of Berhampore, Brooklyn, Island Bay, Kingston, Mornington, Newtown, Ōwhiro Bay, Southgate and Vogeltown.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward

[edit]

In May 2021, the Wellington City Council voted 13–2 to establish a Māori ward,[42][43] with the Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward first contested in the 2022 elections.

Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward is represented on the council by 1 councillor, and covers the entire city.

In July 2024, the National-led coalition government passed the Local Government (Electoral Legislation and Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies) Amendment Act 2024 which reinstated the requirement that councils must hold a referendum before establishing Māori wards or constituencies. In September 2024, the council voted 13–3 to affirm their decision to establish the Māori ward, thereby triggering a referendum on the ward to be held alongside the 2025 local elections.[44][45] Wellington voters elected to retain the Māori ward.[46]

Offices

[edit]
Wellington Town Hall, incorporating the Mayor's Office and Council Chambers

The Wellington City Council owned and until May 2019 operated from a complex on Wakefield Street, with various extensions each representing a distinctive architectural period. The complex incorporated the Wellington Town Hall which opened in 1904, with the most recent extension completed in 1991 alongside the Wellington Central Library.

The Wakefield Street complex was cleared of back office functions, and from 28 May 2019 onwards was closed completely, after which it was demolished. Most of the council's central office staff were located in commercial premises at 113 The Terrace until 2026, when they moved to Harris Street.[47].

Due to repairs also being needed to the Wellington Central Library, and Capital E, all of the civic buildings on Civic Square except for the City Gallery were closed until June 2026, when Te Matapihi (Wellington Central Library) reopened. While the Library was closed, the council operated two public service desks out of Johnsonville Library and Te Awe Library in the CBD.[48]

Civic symbols

[edit]

Coat of arms

[edit]

The Wellington City Council first adopted a coat of arms in 1878.[49] This coat of arms had the description:[50]

Coat of arms of the City of Wellington (former)
Crest
Mural crown or surmounted by a dolphin embowed azure (supremacy by naval position). Mantle, azure and gules.
Escutcheon
Quarterly 1st azure out of a ducal crown or a demi-lion rampant gules holding in the paws a forked pennon flowing to the sinister, charged with the cross of St. George the ends gules (crest of the Duke of Wellington). 2nd argent. A galley with sails furled and oars and pennons sable (the commerce of the city). 3rd gules. A garb (a wheat or wheat sheaf) proper (the agricultural interests). 4th azure. A Golden Fleece proper cinctured gules (the pastoral interests).
Supporters
Dexter. The British lion. Sinister a moa but proper.
Motto
Suprema a Situ (Supreme by position)
Other elements
Under the motto "1840" (date of the foundation of the City and Colony).

The Wellington City Corporation was granted an official coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1951,[49] the blazon for which is:[51][52]

Coat of arms of the City of Wellington
Crest
On a Mural Crown Argent a Dolphin Naiant Azure, Mantled Gules.
Escutcheon
Quarterly Gules and Azure, a Cross Or between; In the first quarter a Fleece Or; in the second quarter on Water barry wavy proper in base a Lymphad sail furled pennon and flags flying Argent; in the third quarter a Garb Or; in the fourth quarter five Plates in Saltire Argent.
Supporters
On the dexter side a Lion gorged with a Collar and Chain reflexed over the back Or, and on the sinister side a Moa proper.
Motto
Suprema a Situ (Supreme by position)
Symbolism
The shield is divided vertically and horizontally, quarter of which the first and fourth are red and the remaining pair are blue. A golden cross is placed over the entire shield centrally between these quarters. The top left quarter contains a golden fleece (usually depicted as a whole sheep with a band around its middle). The second quarter is depicted as a silver sailing ship (lymphad) with its sails furled as it would be in port but with its flags flying, placed on waves in their natural colour. The third quarter contains a golden wheat sheaf, and the fourth has five silver discs arranged in a saltire.

The mural crown (a crown depicted as if made of stonewalling) is common as a crest in city coats of arms. It is coloured silver, and from its top comes a swimming dolphin. Around the crest is mantling in red. The supporters on either side of the shield are a golden heraldic lion with a chained collar around its neck to the left, and a moa in its natural colouring on the right (the terms "sinister" and "dexter" relate to the shield from the holder's point of view, not the viewer's, thus dexter is the viewer's left and sinister is the viewer's right). The base on which the supporters stand is normally not emblazoned but is left to the artist to decide. The Motto may be translated as "Supreme by position".

Badge and flag

[edit]
The flag of Wellington

Wellington City Council was also granted a badge by the College of Arms in 1963, with the heraldic description:

A Roundel Azure thereon a Lymphad Or the sail argent charged with a Dolphin naiant Azure pennon and flags flying Argent each charged with a Cross Gules.[53]

The flag of Wellington, adopted on 12 December 1962, incorporates the city's badge over a black cross on a gold field.[54]

Sister-city relationships

[edit]
The ceremonial mace of Wellington City Council, gifted to the city by Harrogate in 1954[55]

Wellington City Council has established international partnerships with the following cities:[56]

Sister cities

[edit]

Friendly cities

[edit]

Proposed future sister cities

[edit]

See also

[edit]

Territorial authorities bordering Wellington City Council:

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Vacancy caused by the death of councillor Tony Randle[12]
  2. ↑ O'Brien was elected unopposed in a by-election held due to the number of candidates being less than the number of vacancies for the Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board at the 2025 local elections.[36]
  3. ↑ As the number of candidates was less than the number of vacancies for the Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board at the 2025 local elections, a by-election was to be held to fill the remaining vacancies. However, the number of candidates for the by-election was again less than the number of vacancies, leaving a seat vacant. At their 26 February 2026 ordinary meeting, the board resolved to fill this remaining extraordinary vacancy by appointing Brett Marley to the board.[36]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 "1865–1890". wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 Thorns, David; Schrader, Ben (11 March 2010). "City history and people – Towns to cities". teara.govt.nz. Te Ara: the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  3. ↑ Municipal Corporations Act 1886, cls 20 and Second Schedule.
  4. ↑ Betts 1970, p. 39.
  5. 1 2 Yska 2006, p. 113.
  6. ↑ Yska 2006, pp. 91–2.
  7. ↑ Betts 1970, p. 86.
  8. ↑ Yska 2006, p. 234.
  9. ↑ Smith, Sam (11 November 2024). "Crown Observer appointed to Wellington Council". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Wellington City Council's Crown observer named as Lindsay McKenzie". RNZ. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  11. ↑ Hunt, Tom (18 November 2024). "Case for Crown intervention 'finely balanced' despite Wellington City Council issues". The Post. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  12. ↑ Wellington councillor Tony Randle dies unexpectedly, Stuff, 9 August 2026. Accessed 9 August 2026.
  13. ↑ Wellington City Council. "Council's new committee structure agreed". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Wellington City Council (29 April 2021). "Council votes to include mana whenua at the meeting table". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Te Hoe Matua – City Strategy and Delivery Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Te Taurapa – Council Planning and Finance Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Te Rauawa – Social, Cultural, and Environment Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Te Takere – Regulatory Processes Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Te Kura o te Waka – Audit and Risk Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Tumu Whakatere – Chief Executive Performance Review Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "District Licensing Committee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Te Urungi Whakatupu Ōhanga – Economic Growth and Development Subcommittee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Ngā Toki Whakahaere – CCO Review and Appointments Subcommittee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Te Mataaho o te Hapori – Grants Subcommittee". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.
  25. ↑ "Meet our mana whenua representatives". Wellington City Council. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  26. ↑ "Pouiwi Holden Hohaia". Wellington City Council. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  27. ↑ "Pouiwi Liz Kelly". Wellington City Council. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  28. ↑ "Local Government Act 2002 No 84 (as at 01 July 2017)". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  29. ↑ "Electoral Systems". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  30. ↑ "Tawa Community Board". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  31. 1 2 3 "Ward maps and boundaries". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  33. ↑ "Tawa Community Board". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  34. ↑ "Mākara | Ōhāriu Community Board". meetings.wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  35. ↑ "Terms of Reference and Delegations for the 2025-28 triennium" (PDF). wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. November 2025. p. 33. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  36. 1 2 "2026 Mākara-Ōhāriu Community Board by-election". wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
  37. ↑ Campbell, Georgina. "Report reveals Wellington Mayor Andy Foster's poor airport board meeting attendance". The New Zealand Herald. New Zealand Media and Entertainment. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  38. 1 2 "Wellington Airport announces new Board appointment". Wellington Airport. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  39. ↑ Manera, Ethan. "Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau missed half of airport board meetings in past year". NZ Herald. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  40. ↑ Wellington City Council. "Te Pūrongo ā-Tau Annual Report 2019–2020" (PDF). Wellington City Council. p. 105. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  41. ↑ Wellington City Council (13 June 2018). "Bilingual naming of Wellington City Council wards". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  42. ↑ George, Damian; MacManus, Joel (11 March 2021). "Wellington City Council set to establish Māori ward next year". Stuff. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  43. ↑ "Council votes for Māori Ward in Pōneke". wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  44. ↑ Hunt, Tom (5 September 2024). "Wellington City Council passes Māori ward vote". The Post. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  45. ↑ "Wellington City Council votes to keep Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori Ward". wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  46. ↑ Paewai, Pokere (21 October 2025). "Final results confirm axeing of more than half of Māori wards". RNZ. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  47. ↑ "WCC Contact Information". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  48. ↑ "Council service desk locations". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  49. 1 2 "Timeline – We Built This City". Archives Online. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  50. ↑ "Wellington City Council coat of arms (general file)". Archives Online. Wellington City Council. p. 81. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  51. ↑ "Coats of Arms – Local". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  52. ↑ "Letters patent granting armorial ensigns [Grant for WCC Coat of Arms]". Archives Online. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  53. ↑ "Letters patent granting use of roundel". Archives Online. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  54. ↑ "City of Wellington: city flag". Archives Online. Wellington City Council. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  55. ↑ "Harrogate, England". wellington.govt.nz. Wellington City Council. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  56. ↑ "International city partners". Wellington City Council. Retrieved 24 June 2026.

Sources

[edit]

41°17′44″S 174°46′50″E / 41.29556°S 174.78056°E / -41.29556; 174.78056

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wellington_City_Council&oldid=1368590723"