Wellington Region
Councils of Wellington region
Councils of the region
Councils fully in the region:
Wellington Regional Council (branded Greater Wellington Regional Council)
- Carterton District Council
- Kapiti Coast District Council
- Lower Hutt City Council (renamed Hutt City Council)
- Masterton District Council
- Porirua City Council
- South Wairarapa District Council
- Upper Hutt City Council
- Wellington City Council
Councils partly in the region:
- Tararua District Council (see Manawatū-Whanganui Region for details)
Representation reviews
All councils are required to review their representation arrangements (number of councillors, how they are elected etc.) at least every six years.
The following councils reviewed their representation arrangements prior to the 2019 local authority elections: Greater Wellington Regional Council, Carterton District Council, Hutt City Council, Masterton District Council, Porirua City Council, South Wairarapa District Council, Upper Hutt City Council and Wellington City Council.
As a result of appeals/objections/referral of proposals not complying with fair representation requirements, the Local Government Commission was required to make determinations on the following councils’ final proposals:
The following councils reviewed their representation arrangements prior to the 2022 local authority elections: Kapiti Coast District Council, Porirua City Council, Masterton District Council, Wellington City Council.
As a result of appeals/objections/referral of proposals not- complying with fair representation requirements, the Local Government Commission was required to make determinations on the following councils’ final proposals:
These councils are required to undertake a review of its representation arrangements prior to the 2028 local authority elections.
Local government reorganisation
On 22 May 2013 the Local Government Commission received an application from the three Wairarapa district councils for their three districts to be united and for a unitary authority to be established for the combined area. Then on 21 June 2013 the Commission received an application from Greater Wellington Regional Council for a unitary authority to be established for all the Wellington Region.
At Wellington Region Reorganisation you can view the process the Commission took to:
- assess both applications
- release a draft proposal for a unitary authority covering all Wellington Region
- decide not to proceed with the proposal for a unitary authority
In deciding to formally close off the reorganisation process, the Local Government Commission also decided to work with the councils and communities of the region to achieve some consensus on the challenges it faces and to collaborate in identifying possible options to address the challenges. This resulted in agreement on the identification of five areas aimed at strengthening Wellington Region: Wairarapa governance arrangements, transport, water services, spatial planning and economic development.
Subsequently, the Local Government Commission prepared a draft proposal for the union of the three Wairarapa district councils and prepared a report recommending Wellington’s councils take joint action on the urban area’s transport and planning challenges. Following consultation on the draft proposal for a combined Wairarapa council, a final proposal was prepared and this was defeated at a poll of electors. You can view the proposal process and also the Commission’s recommendations to the region’s councils and the councils’ responses at Wellington Region Reorganisation.
Read more information about each council through the following links: