A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
Wellington City Council Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Tory Whanau, Green | |
Deputy Mayor | Laurie Foon, Green |
Structure | |
Seats | 16[a] |
Political groups |
|
Elections | |
STV | |
Last election | 8 October 2022 |
Next election | 11 October 2025 |
Meeting place | |
Ngake, Level 16, 113 The Terrace, Wellington[1] | |
Website | |
wellington.govt.nz/ | |
Footnotes | |
|
Wellington City Council is a territorial authority in New Zealand, governing the city of Wellington, the country's capital city and third-largest city by population, behind Auckland and Christchurch. It consists of the central historic town and certain additional areas within the Wellington metropolitan area, extending as far north as Linden and covering rural areas such as Mākara and Ohariu. The city adjoins Porirua in the north and Hutt City in the north-east. It is one of nine territorial authorities in the Wellington Region.
Wellington attained city status in 1886. The settlement had become the colonial capital and seat of government by 1865, replacing Auckland. Parliament officially sat in Wellington for the first time on 26 July 1865. During the last half of the nineteenth century, Wellington grew rapidly from 7,460 residents in 1867 to 49,344 by the end of the century.[2]
The council represents a population of 216,200 as of June 2023[3] and consists of a mayor and fifteen councillors elected from six wards (Northern, Onslow-Western, Lambton, Eastern, Southern general wards and Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward).[n 1][4] It administers public works, sanitation, land use and building consents, among other local services. The council has used the marketing slogan "Absolutely Positively Wellington" in an official capacity since the early 1990s.[5]
Council and committees
The mayor and all councillors are members of council. Following a review in 2021 by former Local Government New Zealand chief executive Peter Winder, the council adopted a new committee structure.[6] All committees apart from Te Kaunihera o Pōneke Council and Ngutu Taki CEO Performance Review Committee include two mana whenua representatives, who are paid and have voting rights.[7]
Committee | Chair | Deputy Chair | Membership |
---|---|---|---|
Te Kaunihera o Pōneke | Mayor Tory Whanau | Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon | Mayor and all councillors |
Unaunahi Māhirahira Audit and Risk Subcommittee | Independent appointment | Cr Tony Randle | Mayor Tory Whanau, Cr John Apanowicz, Cr Ray Chung, Cr Iona Pannett, Pouiwi Liz Kelly (Tākai Here representative) |
Kōrau Tūāpapa Environment and Infrastructure Committee | Cr Tim Brown | Mayor and all councillors and two Tākai Here representatives | |
Kōrau Mātinitini Social, Cultural and Economic Committee | Cr Teri O'Neill | Cr Nureddin Abdurahman | Mayor and all councillors and two Tākai Here representatives |
Kāwai Whakatipu Grants Subcommittee | Cr Nicola Young | Cr Nīkau Wi Neera | Mayor and deputy mayor, Cr Brown, Cr Matthews, Cr O'Neill |
Kōrau Tōtōpū Annual Plan/Long-term Plan, Finance and Performance Committee | Cr Rebecca Matthews | Councillor John Apanowicz | Mayor and all councillors and two Tākai Here representatives |
Koata Hātepe Regulatory Processes Committee | Cr Sarah Free | Cr Ben McNulty | Mayor Whanau, Cr Abdurahman, Cr Calvert, Cr Paul, Pouiwi Holden Hohaia and Pouiwi Liz Kelly (Tākai Here representatives) |
Ngutu Taki CEO Performance Review Committee | Mayor Tory Whanau | Deputy Mayor Laurie Soon | Cr Matthews, Cr O'Neill, Cr Paul |
Wellington's local electoral wards were given Māori names in 2018, after consultation with mana whenua.[8]
Mayor
One mayor is elected at large from the entire Wellington City district.
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tory Whanau | Independent | 2022 |
|
Te Whanganui-a-Tara Māori ward
Te Whanganui a Tara is a Māori ward created by Wellington City Council in 2021.[9] The 2022 election returned Nīkau Wi-Neera as its first-ever councillor.[10]
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nīkau Wi-Neera | Greens | 2022 |
|
Motukairangi/Eastern Ward
Motukairangi/Eastern Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2022 the councillors are:
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sarah Free | Independent | 2013 |
| |
Teri O'Neill | Labour | 2019 |
| |
Tim Brown | Independent | 2022 |
|
Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward
Pukehīnau/Lambton Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2024 the councillors are:
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iona Pannett | Independent | 2007 |
| |
Nicola Young | Independent | 2013 |
| |
Geordie Rogers | Greens | 2024 |
Takapū/Northern Ward
Takapū/Northern Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2022 the councillors are:
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ben McNulty | Labour | 2022 |
| |
Tony Randle | Independent | 2022 |
| |
John Apanowicz | A Voice for Wellington | 2022 |
|
Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward
Wharangi/Onslow-Western Ward returns three councillors to the Wellington City Council. Since 2022 the councillors are:
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diane Calvert | Independent | 2016 |
| |
Rebecca Matthews | Labour | 2019 |
| |
Ray Chung | Independent | 2022 |
|
Paekawakawa/Southern Ward
Paekawakawa/Southern Ward is the only ward that returns two councillors to the Wellington City Council (all others returning one or three). Since 2022 the councillors are:
Name | Affiliation (if any) | First elected | Responsibilities | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Laurie Foon | Greens | 2019 |
| |
Nureddin Abdurahman | Labour | 2022 |
|
Community boards
The council has created two local community boards under the provisions of Part 4 of the Local Government Act 2002,[25] with members elected using a single transferable vote (STV) system[26] or appointed by the council.
These are:
- Tawa Community Board,[27] having six elected members and two appointed members, representing the northern suburbs of Tawa, Grenada North and Takapū Valley;[28] and
- Mākara/Ōhāriu Community Board,[29] having six elected members, representing the rural suburbs of Ohariu, Mākara and Mākara Beach.[28]
Coat of arms
|
Demographics
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 179,466 | — |
2013 | 190,956 | +0.89% |
2018 | 202,737 | +1.20% |
Source: [31] |
Wellington City had a population of 202,737 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 11,781 people (6.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 23,271 people (13.0%) since the 2006 census. There were 74,841 households. There were 98,823 males and 103,911 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female. The median age was 34.1 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 32,856 people (16.2%) aged under 15 years, 54,999 (27.1%) aged 15 to 29, 93,669 (46.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 21,213 (10.5%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 74.1% European/Pākehā, 8.6% Māori, 5.1% Pacific peoples, 18.3% Asian, and 4.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).
The proportion of people born overseas was 33.4%, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.2% had no religion, 31.4% were Christian, 3.7% were Hindu, 1.6% were Muslim, 1.7% were Buddhist and 3.3% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 74,922 (44.1%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 12,690 (7.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $41,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 96,453 (56.8%) people were employed full-time, 24,738 (14.6%) were part-time, and 7,719 (4.5%) were unemployed.[31]
Name | Population | Households | Median age | Median income |
---|---|---|---|---|
Takapū Northern Ward | 47,796 | 16,467 | 35.9 years | $41,500 |
Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward | 43,176 | 15,750 | 38.6 years | $51,800 |
Pukehīnau Lambton Ward | 46,140 | 18,204 | 28.4 years | $37,500 |
Motukairangi Eastern Ward | 37,965 | 14,199 | 37 years | $41,100 |
Paekawakawa Southern Ward | 27,654 | 10,221 | 34 years | $38,700 |
New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Suburbs
Wellington city has 57 officially defined suburbs; one can group them by the wards used to elect the city council. Some areas, while officially forming part of a larger suburb (or several suburbs), are considered by some to be separate communities. The officially defined suburbs include:
Takapū Northern Ward
- official: Churton Park; Glenside; Grenada North; Grenada Village; Horokiwi; Johnsonville; Newlands; Ohariu; Paparangi; Takapu Valley; Tawa; Woodridge
- informal: Greenacres; Linden; Redwood
Wharangi Onslow-Western Ward
- official: Broadmeadows; Crofton Downs; Kaiwharawhara; Karori; Khandallah; Mākara; Mākara Beach; Ngaio; Ngauranga; Northland; Wadestown; Wilton.
- informal: Cashmere; Chartwell; Highland Park; Rangoon Heights; Te Kainga
Pukehīnau Lambton Ward
- official: Aro Valley; Highbury; Kelburn; Mount Cook; Mount Victoria; Oriental Bay; Pipitea; Te Aro; Thorndon; Wellington
Within Lambton Ward, the council's tourism agency has designated three inner-city "quarters", as marketing subdivisions to promote international and domestic tourism. They are:
- Courtenay Quarter, centred around Courtenay Place
- Cuba Quarter, centred around Cuba Street
- Lambton Quarter, centred around Lambton Quay
- The Waterfront Quarter, centred around the waterfront
Paekawakawa Southern Ward
- official: Berhampore; Brooklyn; Island Bay; Kingston; Mornington; Newtown; Ōwhiro Bay; Southgate; Vogeltown
- informal: Kowhai Park
Motukairangi Eastern Ward
- official: Breaker Bay; Hataitai; Houghton Bay; Karaka Bays; Kilbirnie; Lyall Bay; Maupuia; Melrose; Miramar; Moa Point; Rongotai; Roseneath; Seatoun; Strathmore Park
- informal: Crawford; Seatoun Bays; Seatoun Heights; Miramar Heights; Strathmore Heights.
Council-owned companies and enterprises
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. Mayor Andy Foster has been a member of the board since 2016, but has been criticised for poor attendance at board meetings.[32]
The seven council-controlled organisations (CCOs) are[33]
- Basin Reserve Trust
- Karori Sanctuary Trust (Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne)
- Wellington Cable Car Ltd
- Wellington Museums Trust (ExperienceWellington), which operates City Gallery Wellington and the Museum of Wellington City & Sea
- Wellington Regional Economic Development Agency Ltd (WREDA)
- Wellington Water manages all three water services for Hutt, Porirua, Upper Hutt and Wellington city councils, and South Wairarapa District councils.
- Wellington Zoo Trust
The council has a similar interest in the Wellington Regional Stadium Trust.
Sister-city relationships
- Sister cities[35]
- Sydney, Australia
- Canberra, Australia[36]
- Beijing, People's Republic of China
- Xiamen, Fujian, People's Republic of China
- Sakai, Osaka, Japan
- Historical sister cities[37]
- Friendly cities[38]
- Tianjin, People's Republic of China
Proposed/air marked future sister cities
History
Amalgamations
The City of Wellington has subsumed many neighbouring boroughs including:
- Melrose (established 1888) in 1903[40]
- Onslow (Khandallah/Ngaio) (established 1890) in 1919[41] (Wadestown had joined the city in 1906)
- Karori (established 1891) in 1920[41]
- Miramar (established 1904) in 1921[42]
- Johnsonville (a Town Board from 1908), in 1953[43]
- Tawa (a Town district from 1951, then the Tawa Flat Borough Council from 1953) in 1989[44]
List of town clerks/chief executives
The city council was legally headed by a town clerk, who was in charge of the council administration and operations, later renamed as chief executive officer in 1991.[45] Holders of the office since 1842 are:[46]